Residents oppose international sports complex

Residents oppose international sports complex

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 16: The Dakshina Kannada Cricket Association’s (DKCA) plan of constructing a sports stadium of international standards in Bangra Kuloor appears to be a highly unplanned move. 

The foundation stone for the project was laid on a 4.5 plot of land at Bangra Kuloor on Wednesday. However, a plot of 4.5 acres is insufficient for the project. The initiators of the project still do not know how to procure the remaining land. 

The DKCA revealed during a press conference held on Thursday that the entire project requires around 18 acres of land. The already acquired 4.5 acre plot is meant for the core of the stadium. The association hopes to acquire the surrounding land for the project. However, land acquisition for the stadium project is easier said than done. 

Srikanth Pai, the president of the DKCA, expressed confidence that the association can easily acquire at least 6 acres of land. But half of this land is under litigation, and the local residents are totally opposed to the project. Mr. Rai, however, is confident about the support and help of the district administration. 

Even if the association acquires the 6 acres, it will still require 7 acres for the successful completion of the project. The association plans to acquire private land, which would be very challenging indeed because none of the 30 families, which occupy this land, are willing to part with it for economic or sentimental reasons. 

B K Ramu, one of the residents said that the land earmarked for acquisition holds the famous temple of Kodadabbu Daiwa, which is more than 2 centuries old. He said that his family is one of the caretakers of this temple, which attracts devotees from Bangra Kuloor, Kottara, Padukodi, Maladi, and Panjimogaru. His son Prasad said that the residents had submitted a memorandum to the district administration opposing this project. 

Other residents, such as Avid D’Souza and Jayashree, said that they were agriculturists and that taking away their land would be like robbing them of their livelihood. In short, the residents are unwilling to part with their property even for reasonable compensation.