Int’l cricket stadium at Jammu HC directs Union Sports Secy, Prez BCCI, JKCA to file status report

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of J and K State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan on Monday issued notice to Secretary Union of India Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, President Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and sought status report regarding construction of International Stadium at Bajalta in Jammu.
The Court directions came after hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Deewakar Sharma seeking directions to Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) for immediately starting construction work of international cricket stadium at Bajalta, Jammu.
The PIL stated that the state government had allotted land measuring 500 kanals in favour of JKCA in 2005 at Bajalta, Jammu while as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allotted more than Rs. 100 crore to JKCA for the construction of aforementioned stadium.
The PIL further stated that inordinate delay has been caused in starting the construction work and finalisation of construction work at Bajalta, Jammu due to non-release of funds in favour of JKCA. The State has suffered drastically in terms of sports tourism and other financial benefits that it would have got after the completion of aforesaid stadium in the State, it added.