Mangalore: Cricket stadium may come up at Baikampady or Pilikula, says Bhat

The Hindu

Mangalore, 18 December 2012: Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly N. Yogish Bhat, Mangalore South MLA, said on Tuesday that a cricket stadium may come up at Baikampady or Pilikula here.

 

He was speaking at the inauguration of Mangalore United Cricket Academy, an initiative of Mangalore United team of Karnataka Premium League (KPL).

 

Oscar Fernandes, MP, N. Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and Vasant Salian at the inauguration of Mangalore United Cricket Academy in Mangalore on Tuesday.

 

Mr. Bhat said that Pilikula Golf Course had 70 acres of land. Of that, 30 to 35 acres could be used for a modern cricket stadium. The rest of the land could be used for building a “sports city” with facilities for various sports and games.

 

He said that a proposal to construct a golf course of international standards at Tannirbavi would come up before the next Cabinet meeting. “A Cabinet note to this effect is ready. It might be cleared in the next Cabinet meeting,’’ he said.

 

Mr. Bhat said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had acquired 900 acres of land near Baikampady for a project by Nagarjuna company. But the land remained vacant now. A sports city, an eco-tourism project and an industrial hub could come up on that land.

 

A sports city with a cricket stadium and other facilities could be built on 250 acres, the eco-tourism project on 250 acres and the remaining land could be allotted to small industries, he said.

 

He appealed to sports lovers and sports bodies in the city to arrive at a consensus on the choice of land for building a cricket stadium. “I will pursue it with the government at all levels to ensure that it became a reality in 2012,’’ he said.

 

Oscar Fernandes, MP, said that he would contribute funds from the MPs Area Development Fund for the cricket stadium.

 

President of the academy B.A. Mohiuddin Bava said that the academy had been set up for grooming talents in cricket. There was a need for a modern cricket stadium in the city. Mangalore did not have a turf pitch, he said.

 

B.M. Farooq, Chief Executive Officer, Mangalore United team, said that he recently held a meeting with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in Bangalore. The association indicated that the third edition of KPL would start from June. The association, with its honorary president Anil Kumble and honorary secretary Javgal Srinath, stated that a match of the third edition would be played in Manipal, he said.