Ministry sends 'verbal' message asking not to rent out the facility for non-sporting events, Balewadi authorities say no intimation was received
Ministry sends 'verbal' message asking not to rent out the facility for non-sporting events, Balewadi authorities say no intimation was received
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The authorities at the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, have been getting a lot of flak for renting out the complex for the high-profile wedding of Vilasrao Deshmukh's niece. Even after the episode, the sports ministry is yet to issue a written communication on whether such sports complexes should be rented out for non-sporting events.
Earlier, Padmakar Valvi, state minister for sports and youth welfare, said that hockey fields, badminton courts and other such areas should be rented out only for sporting events and nothing else.
Asked about Balewadi authorities renting out the complex, including badminton court and wrestling arena, for the wedding, Valvi told MiD DAY yesterday that the authorities had done nothing wrong. "They had just given the parking space on rent which is acceptable," he said.
On being pointed out that there was enough evidence to show the badminton and table tennis courts, and wrestling hall were also given out on rent for the wedding, he said he would look into the matter soon.
Valvi said that he had given a verbal intimation to the authorities at Balewadi that sports arena should not be rented out for non-sporting events. "I have personally called them up and asked them to stop giving the halls on rent," Valvi said.
However, authorities at Balewadi maintained that they had not received any kind of communication from Valvi or the ministry.
Manik Thosare, deputy director, sports and youth services, said, "I haven't heard from Padmakar Valvi. Maybe he communicated with others."
Repeated calls and messages to Sanjay Sabnis, assistant director, Balewadi Sports Complex went unanswered.
Thosare was non-committal on the issue.
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"Three months ago we had sent a proposal to the government on various issues. One of them was about the complex being given out on rent for events. The proposal is still lying with the government as they haven't taken any decision," he said.
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