Thiruvananthapuram: Following the footsteps of Kerala University, which leased 37 acres for the Karyavattom Greenfield International Stadium, Calicut University has now sanctioned lease of a major portion of its land for a similar project. The university has approved the lease of 42 acres adjacent to the national highway for a private agency to construct a football stadium.
Responding to a request from the state’s sports department, the University Syndicate approved the land lease. A subcommittee of the syndicate held discussions on the matter with Minister for Sports V. Abdurahiman. The proposed project also includes a swimming pool and a commercial complex in addition to the stadium.
Get Latest Mathrubhumi Updates in English
However, the decision has drawn opposition from the Save University Campaign Committee, which has accused the authorities of facilitating a land grab under the guise of development. The committee claims that valuable land worth crores is being taken over by land mafias with government backing. Chairman RS Sasikumar and Convenor M. Shajar Khan have submitted a petition to the Governor, urging him to intervene and halt the project.
Kerala University faces ₹70 crore in lease dues
Minister for Sports V. Abdurahiman, in response to a question raised by MLA C.R. Mahesh in the Legislative Assembly, revealed that lease arrears for the Greenfield International Stadium land stood at ₹70 crore as of December 2022. Reports suggest that the outstanding amount has now risen to approximately ₹84 crore, yet no steps have been taken to recover the dues.
The decision dates back to 2010 when the V S Achuthanandan-led government approved the lease based on a recommendation by then Sports Minister M Vijayakumar. Later, under the Oommen Chandy government, the then Sports Minister KB Ganesh Kumar formally handed over 37 acres of land on a 15-year lease. Meanwhile, the Kerala Syndicate recently decided to provide an additional 10 acres of land in Karyavattom, worth ₹100 crore, free of cost for a science park.
