Cricket stadium project at SSUS put on hold

The cricket stadium task of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) successful relation with the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has been enactment connected clasp pursuing apprehensions implicit the deficiency of clarity successful the fiscal gains for the varsity and handing implicit of the premier six-acre onshore to a backstage assemblage connected a semipermanent basis.

The nonaccomplishment incurred by the University of Kerala aft it had handed implicit 37 acres connected lease for the operation of Greenfield Stadium astatine Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, has been cited by the authorities arsenic a lawsuit successful constituent for not going up with the multi-crore task successful haste, according to sources. According to the draught statement for a play of 33 years, the cricketing assemblage would person the close to usage the six-acre onshore for processing the stadium and allied infrastructure.

An RTI filed by the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) had revealed that the University of Kerala had yet to person implicit ₹80 crore towards lease rent for 37 acres of onshore leased retired for the operation of the Greenfield Stadium astatine Kariavattom. The assemblage had inked concession agreements with the National Games Secretariat and Kariavattom Sports Facilities Limited successful 2012.

The stadium task ran into contention aft the SUCC lodged a ailment earlier Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is besides the Chancellor of State universities, blaming erstwhile Vice-Chancellor (V-C) K.K. Geethakumary and a conception of the Left-backed Syndicate members for aiding the commercialized interests of the KCA by supporting the project.

Ms. Geethakumary and the Syndicate members had denied the allegations, portion pointing retired that the KCA would person lone ‘land use’ rights, and that determination would beryllium nary fiscal nonaccomplishment for the varsity. Mr. Arlekar had removed Ms. Geethakumary with contiguous effect connected March 5 and had entrusted Ciza Thomas, V-C of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, with the further complaint of the Vice-Chancellor of SSUS.

The determination came a fewer days aft the erstwhile Vice-Chancellor informed the Governor astir the Syndicate's determination to spell up with the cricket stadium task and the recruitment of Assistant Professors based connected a notification issued successful 2021.