Panaji: The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has decided to scrap its move to hand over the football ground at Campal to a private operator for a 10-year period. The GSUDA has moved a file to the state cabinet seeking permission to hand over the football ground to the Corporation of the City of Panaji to maintain and operate the Rs 30 crore facility.The GSUDA’s original plan was to offer a 10-year commercial licence to a private agency to operate the 40,000sqm facility, which includes a 500sqm premium restaurant, football ground, sports academy, vehicle parking lots, and corporate perimeter branding spaces.The GSUDA plan saw a strong backlash from sports lovers and the opposition parties.According to GSUDA member secretary Brijesh Manerkar, govt wanted to earn revenue to recover the cost of construction and to ensure that the facility was well-maintained.“The tender has been cancelled. Now, the minister has taken a decision to hand over the ground to the CCP. It will happen fast. It requires cabinet approval and the file has gone to govt,” Manerkar told TOI.CCP councillor Jack Sukhija was the first to raise the issue about the ground being unutilised even despite being completed three years ago. He also opposed any move to hand over the management of the ground to private parties.On Wednesday, Congress held a protest against GSUDA’s proposal to look for a private agency to manage the football ground. State Congress president Girish Chodankar called it an attempt to privatise public assets. GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “The GSUDA is creating good sports infrastructure that needs to remain with our youths, our school students and our local football clubs and associations. Today, when a sports complex is reportedly sought to be leased out, concerns arise. Why is sports infrastructure being turned into a commercial deal instead of a platform for our Goan youths?”
