<p><br />As per records, at least Rs 50 lakh has been spent on the construction and development of the stadium. <br /><br />But the first thing that one gets to see in the stadium is not the development, but human wastes, overgrown plants and missing fences. Apart from the cricket matches played by local college students, the stadium has not hosted any other sporting event.<br /><br />The stadium was constructed two decades ago when the taluk administration felt that there was a need for a stadium in the taluk to promote sports and decided to convert the land belonging to the Junior College on Kolar-KGF main road into a stadium.<br /><br />In 2004, the stadium was fenced and seating arrangements were made at the cost of Rs 40 lakh. But the gates disappeared within the first few days itself and the fences have been disappearing fast. <br /><br />As a result of the lack of maintenance, the money spent on the stadium has amounted to nothing.<br /><br />Who’s responsibility?<br /><br />When asked Town Municipal Council as to who was responsible for the development and maintenance of the stadium, they shirk responsibility by pointing fingers at the Zilla Panchayat technical officers. <br /><br />When ZP officials were questioned, their ready response was that they were only responsible for development and not maintenance.<br /><br />The stadium is spruced up once every year for Independence Day celebrations. The rest of the year it is conveniently forgotten.<br /><br />However, students from the Junior College also hold the sportspersons responsible for the dismal state of the stadium. “There are many sportspersons in the taluk who play kho kho and volley ball, but even they fail to make use of the stadium. If they had used the stadium regularly, it would not have been in such a bad state,” they say.<br /><br />The locals too say that volley ball players choose to play in the park even when the stadium is so close by.<br /><br />Funds promised<br /><br />Sports Minister Goolihatti Shekhar had assured that funds will be released to all taluks for the development of stadiums while assuming office. However, none of the officials in the taluk administration or elected representatives seem to be interested in raising the issue.<br /><br />Residents say it is high time that officials realise their folly and take suitable steps to correct them.</p>
<p><br />As per records, at least Rs 50 lakh has been spent on the construction and development of the stadium. <br /><br />But the first thing that one gets to see in the stadium is not the development, but human wastes, overgrown plants and missing fences. Apart from the cricket matches played by local college students, the stadium has not hosted any other sporting event.<br /><br />The stadium was constructed two decades ago when the taluk administration felt that there was a need for a stadium in the taluk to promote sports and decided to convert the land belonging to the Junior College on Kolar-KGF main road into a stadium.<br /><br />In 2004, the stadium was fenced and seating arrangements were made at the cost of Rs 40 lakh. But the gates disappeared within the first few days itself and the fences have been disappearing fast. <br /><br />As a result of the lack of maintenance, the money spent on the stadium has amounted to nothing.<br /><br />Who’s responsibility?<br /><br />When asked Town Municipal Council as to who was responsible for the development and maintenance of the stadium, they shirk responsibility by pointing fingers at the Zilla Panchayat technical officers. <br /><br />When ZP officials were questioned, their ready response was that they were only responsible for development and not maintenance.<br /><br />The stadium is spruced up once every year for Independence Day celebrations. The rest of the year it is conveniently forgotten.<br /><br />However, students from the Junior College also hold the sportspersons responsible for the dismal state of the stadium. “There are many sportspersons in the taluk who play kho kho and volley ball, but even they fail to make use of the stadium. If they had used the stadium regularly, it would not have been in such a bad state,” they say.<br /><br />The locals too say that volley ball players choose to play in the park even when the stadium is so close by.<br /><br />Funds promised<br /><br />Sports Minister Goolihatti Shekhar had assured that funds will be released to all taluks for the development of stadiums while assuming office. However, none of the officials in the taluk administration or elected representatives seem to be interested in raising the issue.<br /><br />Residents say it is high time that officials realise their folly and take suitable steps to correct them.</p>
