Pune: Pashan Residents Band Together to Oppose PMC’s Decision to Privatize Only Sports Ground
Pashan, 8th March 2023: Residents of Pashan and surrounding areas in Pune are opposing the decision of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to privatize the Rajmata Jijau Krida Sankul sports complex. The complex, which was built in 2016 on a 4-acre land of the ITI ground, has a badminton hall, space for yoga and indoor games, a jogging track, a tennis court and a basketball court. It is the only sports ground in the neighborhood that is regularly used by citizens, children, the elderly, and sportsmen.
The PMC has sealed the whole sports complex and dug up the ground for construction purposes. They plan to construct a football stadium on the playground and hand it over to a private player for maintenance purposes. The locals are upset that the civic body is taking away their playground and handing it over to private players who will charge citizens for using the facility, which is public property.
Around 500 citizens gathered at the ITI ground on Monday to protest against the PMC’s decision. Sameer Uttarkar, a social activist and a resident of the area, said that the entire area’s population and members of the Pashan Area Sabha have opposed PMC’s decision to build the stadium and give it to private players.
Amit Khamekar, another area resident, said that the PMC’s decision to deprive people of the Rajmata Jijau Krida Sankul, which is used by hundreds of sports enthusiasts and others alike, is being frowned upon by one and all. They do not want a sports complex on this ground. The PMC will build the stadium and make money from it. They will offer it to private players who will also make money by charging locals. This is unacceptable.
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