Date:18/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101861050700.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Sports hostel: maintenance cost to be shared

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation and the Kerala Sports Council have agreed to share the maintenance cost of the Sports Academy hostel at Panampilly Nagar.

According to an agreement reached between the two agencies on Thursday, 60 per cent of the maintenance cost would be met by the Sports Council.

The State Human Rights Commission had earlier directed the Kochi Corporation authorities and the Sports Council to report on the lack of facilities at the Sports Academy hostel at Panampilly Nagar. The directive was issued by Commission Chairman N. Dinakar after visiting the hostel recently.

Though the corporation owns the land and the hostel building, the responsibility for carrying out the maintenance work is with the Sports Council, said Mayor Mercy Williams.

On earlier occasions, the corporation had supported the council for running the hostel. Once the council deposits its share of the amount, the corporation will carry out the work. The hostel needs to be operated as a partnership project between the two agencies, she said.

It is estimated that Rs.5 lakh would be required for completing the maintenance work. The engineers of the corporation inspected the building on Thursday. The commission had also directed the corporation and the council officials to explain before it what steps the agencies proposed to take for the proper maintenance of the hostel.