BANGALORE: The good old Sree Kanteerava Stadium is a unique venue in more sense than one. For it has been utilised for a number of nonsporting events. Despite a legislation against its use, or rather misuse, for such purposes little regard has been shown by those in authority causing a lot of problems and hardships to the sporting fraternity.
That the sporting fraternity is suffering and enduring all this in silence, has possibly emboldened the minds of the decision-makers to continue to do so.
A 3-crore plus synthetic track was laid for the National Games in 1996-97. It was replaced a couple of years ago. Non-sporting events can only cause irreparable damage to it. It will and has exposed sports persons to serious injury risk as well.
But who cares? During the 1970s, it was utilised for music concerts with barricades being erected all around. The ground was just dug up and left battered without mercy.
Political meetings and rallies were the order of the day too causing similar damage.
The World Environment Day was held with a huge globe being erected right in the centre of the ground.
The tragic demise of Karnataka’s beloved and reverred actor Rajkumar, saw his mortal remains being placed at the stadium for thousands who came to pay their last respects.
Very recently, the ground was dug up and a wicket laid for a celebrity cricket match despite the cricket stadium being just a stone’s throw away from the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. All this as far as the outdoor stadium is concerned.
That the Indoor Stadium is home to more commercial activity than to sporting ones is a well known fact. The Karnataka High Court had even blasted the state government and the various state sports associations for not planning sufficient sporting events to be conducted as it is basically been built for sports.
Now the most unthought of event - the oath-taking ceremony of the new government - had been planned at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
With construction of metro in full swing, the stretch in front of the majestic steps of the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power, has shrunk no doubt. But fortunately there was a change of plans. It also rained heavily hours before the ceremony. It was eventually administered at the Glass House in Raj Bhavan itself.
Space problems are there for everything and everywhere too in the City. There is no space to walk, no space to play, no space to ride nor drive, no space to park, no space and time to party. In this chaotic scenario getting a large chunk of space for the congregation of thousands of well-wishers (read ‘future beneficiaries’) is also a huge problem.
But why the Sree Kanteerava which has a very expensive synthetic track? Why not the Jayanagar Stadium or the Malleswaram Stadium? There is no synthetic track at those venues and the damage that might have been caused would have been negligible.
But not at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The track can be damaged as thousands of supporters can hardly be prevented from stepping on to it. Or probably, the government already has a fresh tender ready to replace the existing track.
Whose money is it anyway? Misuse of the Sree Kanteerava Stadium must be stopped forthwith. Rain or no rain.
Who will be the ‘Anna’ for this?