The football ground in Santa Cruz finds itself mired in
controversy ever since it has been handed over to Goa Football Development
Council (GFDC) to run its centre. On one idle of the fence sit the locals who believe
they have right to use the ground and on the other, GFDC officials who believe
they have the right to charge for the use of the ground. If at all this
persists, the youth of Santa Cruz stand to suffer.
“ Around six grounds were handed over to GFDC so that they
could be used to run their centres. It is clear that they cannot charge the
locals for the use of these grounds. If the locals are being charged, they
should inform me. I have received no complaint from any one right now,” V M Prabhu Desai , Director of Directorate of sports and
Youth affairs (DSYA) told The Navhind Times.
In a letter (copy with this newspaper) dated February 1,2016
to GFDC , Prabhu Desai wrote: “The maintenance of the above said playgrounds
may be undertaken by your council at your own cost. Besides the above
playground should be made available to the local youth, schools, clubs and
Directorate of sports for their activities as per their request.”
DSYA were officially intimated that GFDC was charging for
the ground in Santa Cruz on June 20 ,
2016 when in a letter addressed to DSYA Director Prabhu Desai , GFDC informed
him: “ This is to inform you that this office had received a circular from SAG
no SAG/COMP/RENTAL CHARGES/2015/3820
dated 02/02/2016 giving revised rates of play and pay schemes for
various sports infrastructure. These rates were put before the Goa Football
Develoment Council and a resolution was passed by the council in its meeting
dated 29th April 2016 to adopt the same rates for usage of grounds
under the GFDC by private parties and others. Accordingly, against request from
Shri Manual Fernandes GFDC had informed that they would have to pay charge of
Rs 800 /- per day from 25th April 2016 to 25th may 2016
for the use of the said ground.total amounting to Rs 24,800….”
“Once the ground has been allotted to us it is our property.
I have written to the Director of DSYA and have intimated it to him that no
charges are imposed on local clubs if they need to practise on the ground or they
host tournaments for their boys.
However, we charge when tournaments are held and outside teams are invited.
This has been decided at a council meeting,” stated GFDC Member Secretary Aleixo De Costa.
Recently, St Anna Sports and Cultural Association from Santa
Cruz organised a football tournament for boys under 14 and girls under 17. “ I
wrote to DSYA and my letter was directed to GFDC. At GFDC I was told that the
club would have to pay for the hire of the ground. I then decided to write
another letter to GFDC asking them to be the joint organisers of the tournament
and extended an invitation to be chief guest to the chairman,” (copies of the
letters in our possession) stated club secretary Custodio Araujo.
Most GFDC centres use grounds for about an hour a day. In
some centres it is a little more.
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