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Adopting a no-nonsense approach to the BTC’s feet-dragging over the issue of shifting the club within the December 31 deadline, the chief minister is understood to have said that the races will have to stop for a year if the club did not adhere to the shift notice.
According to sources, the club had appealed to the government seeking more time to shift the racing turf. When this was brought to Yeddyurappa’s notice on Thursday morning, the CM reportedly said: “If they want some more time to shift the club, it is their problem. Let them close the races for a year. At least for a year, the families of those who have a habit of losing money will lead happier lives.”
In their defence, the BTC authorities have reportedly conveyed to the government officials that the club would have to invest Rs 200 crore in order to complete the shifting operations to the city’s outskirts.
They in turn demanded that the government grant the club tax exemption for five years. Sources said the government was yet to take a decision on the BTC’s demand.
Alternative site
Briefing reporters after meeting a group of inter-departmental officials, Yeddyurappa said that he had directed the revenue department to finalise an alternative site for the club within a week. The revenue department officials proposed a 100-acre land in Doddajala in Bangalore North taluk as an alternative site. They will soon finalise the modalities to acquire the land and then ask the club authorities to prepare shifting there.
The CM said the move to shift the club premises to the city’s suburban areas had been hanging fire for decades. In 1968, the then government had identified an alternative site at Jakkur, but the club refused to relocate. “In expectation of raking in huge returns, several middle class families have suffered financially because of their habit to spend on races. If the club is shifted to the city outskirts, a number of families will be saved from ruination,” Yeddyurappa said.
Transport minister R Ashok, who was also present at the meeting, said once the club moved out, the existing land would be retained as green space so it could become the city’s green lung. No construction would be allowed on it, Ashok said. He, however, added that “there is a proposal to build a watch tower on the site, though a final decision is pending”.
Asked whether the Kempe Gowda bus stand would be shifted to the BTC site to facilitate smooth execution of the Metro rail work, Ashok said there was no such proposal before the government. “Operations at the KG bus stand will be affected for three years due to the Metro rail work. We have not thought of engaging the Turf Club area for the bus stand for such a long time,” he said. The BTC came up in 1921 with a total area of 85 acres. The land was obtained on lease from the Mysore royal family. Since Independence, successive state governments have failed to dislodge the club from its present premises.