Mangalore: Foundation Stone Laid for International Sports Complex in City
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SP)
Mangalore, Apr 14: “The city will shortly be opening itself up for international level sports activities, mainly cricket, once the proposed international sports complex, which has been a long-pending demand of the sports-loving people of Dakshina Kannada district, is completed,” said Dr V S Acharya, state home minister, after participating in he foundation laying ceremony for the new international stadium-cum-sports complex at Bangrakulur in the city, on Wednesday April 14.
“The state government is fully geared to extend full support in the progress of works of this sports complex. It will provide whatever is required, for the completion of the project as soon as possible,” he said after inaugurating the ceremony. As the city has been growing very fast, and also in view of the fact that it has been identified as the second major city in the state, there is a need for a good quality stadium, which in turn, will work to inspire the local cricketing talents as well as the sports lovers in city and surrounding regions to excel in these fields,” he added.
The programme was organized by Dakshina Kannada Cricket Association (DKCA) at the venue earlier earmarked for the stock exchange, where the complex is proposed to come up. This land has already been allotted to it by the district administration. The district administration has allotted 5.5 acres of land for the stadium, in the preliminary stage.
District in-charge minister, Krishna Palemar, said that there is a demand for 16 more acres of land for the sports complex. He added that if allotted, this will be helpful in earning the international level recognition for the complex. He hoped that the district administration will accede to this request by acquiring the adjacent lands. He also noted that the district suffers from the lack of a good quality cricket stadium, and felt that with the inauguration of this stadium, this requirement will get fulfilled.
“There is no controversy either in the land acquisition or about the construction of sports complex at this spot. Hence, the work will be completed at the earliest,” he added.
The organizers informed at the programme that the sports complex will be constructed, duly adhering to international standards, which will be adequate for organizing international level cricket tournaments. DKCA will supervise the construction. The proposed land is located very near to the national highway in Bangrakulur area, where the international convention of Bunts community had been held several years back, with the participation of over a lac of people.
The foundation laying ceremony was held, duly following rituals connected with it. The stone plaque was unveiled by the home minister, to signify the inauguration of the construction of the complex.
MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA, Abhayachandra Jain, Coastal Development Authority chairman, Nagaraja Shetty, Dr Shantarama Shetty, vice-chancellor of Nitte University, president of DKCA, Dr Srikanth Rai, and secretary, Arun Kumar Shetty, were also present.