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| Inapt JKCA, Anurag's interests denying Jammu International cricket stadium | | Is PM watching! | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 18: With division and politics dominating functioning of disputed Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), the dream of Jammu region getting an international cricket stadium is unlikely to become a reality.
500 kanals of land at Bajalta, 16 kilometres from Jammu city, was handed over to JKCA in the year 2005 by the then government on lease. The government was then headed by ex-Chief Minister late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Experts were hired by Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) for designing the stadium and getting the work underway. The experts used their expertise and left with reports in the hands of JKCA.
11 years have passed, political statements have become routine, four governments have exchanged offices and too much has happened in the BCCI. But what to talk stadium, even the foundation stone has not been laid. The foundation stone for the international stadium at Bajalta was supposed to be laid on March 18, 2012 but it is one such stone which the politicians have desisted to lay. The stone is the custody of JKCA and awaits the moment some politician finally decides to lay it.
What makes the story tragic is the non-seriousness of both President and Chairman of JKCA. While President Imran Raza Ansari's focus is on improving the existing stadiums, extending them more facilities and making them world class; the Chairman Mehboob Iqbal's desire is to have a stadium in his home town and assembly constituency Bhaderwah. The two are pulling in the opposite directions and hence, have put JKCA virtually in mess.
Apart from this political tug of war, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has hardened its stand by not releasing any funds to the state body since unearthing of the JKCA fund scam and recent developments in the JKCA which have further dented its image. High Court has handed over the multi-crore case to the Central Bureau of Investigation but the BCCI is adamant on not releasing the funds to the state cricket body since the unearthing of the scam.
The funds are given by the apex cricket body to all state associations across the country annually for conducting domestic activities or taking up development projects. More than Rs 100 crore is lying with the BCCI and it has made it clear that unless strict action was taken against those involved in the multi-crore scam, funds would not be released. It is also being largely believed that BCCI President Anurag Thakur doesn't want an international stadium in Jammu.
Sources said that he is using the pretext of scam to deny funds to JKCA purely because he feels; an international stadium in Jammu and Kashmir would mean huge loss to Himachal Pradesh, his home state. Non-seriousness and divisions within JKCA is actually helping Anurag in further delaying the release of funds for international cricket stadium in Bajalta. Sources also indicated that Kashmiri lobby also doesn't want a stadium to come-up in Jammu and instead, they want the same to be constructed somewhere in Srinagar.
The result is that the stadium which should have by now become operational is awaiting foundation stone lying ceremony. The proposals have all vanished in thin air and none knows when the state government would come to life and work on the stadium would start. As far as JKCA is concerned, its sole focus right now is to settle disputes between the political stalwarts who have used JKCA to further their personal ambitions.
It is largely believed that infrastructure development has been on the least priority for JKCA. It has never taken any interest in building world class infrastructure and whenever asked, saved its skin by referring to militancy not allowing it to take works for the promotion of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. An example which is often quoted is that of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), which was given affiliation 22 years after Kashmir was recognized.
The President of BCCI Anurag Thakur is from Himachal Pradesh and the state has ten cricket grounds with world class infrastructure. But Jammu and Kashmir has not even one which could have even primary level infrastructure. From hosting public rallies to closing the grounds on national days, the grounds in Jammu and Kashmir can be called anything but not cricket grounds.
It needs to be mentioned here that since 2012, JKCA has been marred by charges of corruption linked to its top functionaries. The Kashmir police registered an FIR 27/2012 under Sections 406, 168 and 120-B of the RPC for making the JKCA a lending agency and for operating bogus accounts to swindle money. The FIR booked then treasurer Ehsan Mirza and then General Secretary, Saleem Khan, for allegedly diverting Rs 50 crore, received from BCCI as subsidy, to their three different personal accounts opened in the name of the JKCA. A total of ten people including Dr. Farooq Abdullah have been booked by the police for siphoning money. The total misappropriation of Rs 113.66 crore received from BCCI between April 2002 and December 2011 was also investigated. |
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