NGOs, political parties oppose levy of fee for using district stadium
A fresh controversy has erupted over allegations leveled by the District Sports Officer against players, morning walkers, spectators, and coaches over the use of the stadium.
Chandrapur: There is a tussle going on in the District Sports Office regarding the inauguration program of the synthetic track at the MS Kannwar District Sports Complex (District Stadium).
A fresh controversy has erupted over allegations leveled by the District Sports Officer against players, morning walkers, spectators, and coaches over the use of the stadium.
District Sports Officer Avinash Pund has issued orders to collect a fee of Rs 500 per month from those who do morning walk and citizens. Rs 300 per month for players and Rs 1,000 per month for coaches who use the ground to train their players. A fee of Rs 1 lakh per year has been charged to the football clubs who use this stadium for their practice also.
The new rules also make it completely mandatory for all citizens to wear jogging shoes and sports kits for players while using the stadium. NGOs and political parties have decried the very high level of allegations made by the District Sports Office And have also filed a complaint with the District Collector demanding immediate cancellation of the ‘unfair and unwarranted allegations’.
Social-cum-political organization Jan Vikas Sena (JVS), which also termed it as an attempt to privatize the district stadium, has also warned of agitation if the charges are not withdrawn.
Avinash Pund for charging Rs 500 per month from senior citizens
Jan Vikas Sena president Pradeep Deshmukh has also alleged that there is a conspiracy to hand over the contract for the maintenance of the stadium to a political party functionary. Former City Congress President Nandu Nagarkar has also submitted a memorandum to the District Collectorate demanding immediate cancellation of the order. He has also warned of agitation. He has also said that district sports complexes across the state have been set up to groom sportspersons and not to loot their money.
International handball player and Shiv Chhatrapati award winner Rajesh Naidu has criticized District Sports Officer Avinash Pund for charging Rs 500 per month from senior citizens who go for the morning walk. “How will students who do not have money to buy their school uniforms buy sports kits and shoes to play and train in the district stadium?” he has warned of agitation if the charges are not withdrawn.
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