The Hindu : KSLTA to get six BMP grounds

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

KSLTA to get six BMP grounds

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE June 10. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has decided to "discreetly" hand over six playgrounds to the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) despite stiff opposition from members of the Congress and Oppositions parties.

A recommendation to hand over the six grounds was approved by the BMP's Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance (T and F) on May 26, and forwarded to the Commissioner, M.R. Sreenivas Murthy.

``Members of the Town Planning Committee inspected the six grounds in mid-May and suggested they could be given to the KSLTA to set up tennis courts for public use. We have endorsed their opinion, and recommended the handing over of the grounds,'' the Chairman of the committee, G. Krishnappa, told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Location of the grounds

The six grounds are: BMP playground behind the Jayanagar Ward Office in 5th Block; Vidyapeetha playground in Srinagar; Jayanagar stadium; Hombegowdanagar playground in Wilson Garden; Subash Chandra Bose playground in Basaveshwaranagar; and the Shivajinagar stadium.

Following an order from the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, who is also the KSLTA President, the Mayor, C.M. Nagaraj, tried to get the council's consent for handing over 22 grounds to the association in March this year.

This not only irked the Opposition members but also the Congress corporators. ``We are afraid the BMP might lose its rights over the grounds if they are handed over to the association. We don't think BMP schoolchildren would want to learn tennis as it is known to be a game for the rich,'' Opposition members said.

BJP's opposition

The issue was kept in abeyance for over two months, and the number of grounds to be given to the association reduced to 11. The Standing Committee on Education and Social Justice approved the proposal on February 11 this year despite opposition from two BJP members, B.N. Mangala and Nagaratna. Sources said the BJP member in the T&F Committee, Venkatesh Murthy, was not party to the decision to approve the handing over of the grounds to the KSLTA.

CM's drive

The BMP's approval will enable the KSLTA to use a portion of the playgrounds (120 m. by 180 m.) to set up tennis courts. This is part of the Chief Minister's drive to popularise tennis, and make Bangalore internationally known for the sport. The Opposition in the council is shocked by the manner in which the grounds are being handed over.

``The Mayor is quite sure that we will not agree with him on this matter. Probably that is why he dropped the idea of placing the proposal before the council and got it approved by the T&F committee, which is no way concerned," Ms. Mangala said.

The issue is likely to create a furore at the council's monthly meeting.

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