The Rajiv Gandhi District Sports Complex in Dharavi was constructed at a cost of Rs 21 Crore and was setup to improve the quality of Sports in the city. The value of the prime land at Dharavi is estimated to be around 250 Crores.

Since 2014 there has been an effort to privatise this property and hand it over to a private builder to run a club which would be social in nature and not for the sportspersons. This decision was taken in spite of strong objection raised by the Sports Department in a letter against privatisation.

In this age where activities like Khelo India are an extremely progressive step to help develop sports as a career, We view the privatisation as extremely regressive and against the grain of developing sports as a career option.

There are several issues with the intent and process adopted in this case and we request the Government to ensure sportspersons interest and top class coaching facilities be the cornerstone of any decision.

Today there are multiple sports academies running at Dharavi in Gymnastics, Swimming, Fencing and Badminton. Also the District Sports Complex has hosted multiple events including boxing, swimming, gymnastics, chess and other sports. Handing this property over to private parties completely dilutes the objective of sports promotion while putting the career of budding sportspersons at a risk. In fact the swimming academy is a Khelo India Accredited academy and the gymnastics academy plans for accreditation. We ask What happens to these academies?

The Sports Department raised multiple objections and severely criticised the planned move. Amongst the objections raised were

1. The Land is not owned by the sports department
2. Due process was not followed in the process
3. No measures were taken to reduce expenditure of the complex

Sports is a state subject. It is imperative for the State Government to promote Sports. The Rajiv Gandhi district Sports Complex at Dharavi was a wonderful step in this regard. The Government now intends to privatise this complex by offering it to a builder whoaims to convert this into an elite club which will be out of reach of the common man.

Finally the plot is being handed over to a builder with no connection to Sport.

The District Sports Complex at Dharavi is making a loss unlike any other sports Complex in Maharashtra. The Privatisation is an attempt to make the complex profitable albeit at a heavy cost to Sportspersons

In spite of its own department's opposition there is a seeming hurry to hand this prime property to a builder for private recreation.

A PIL has been filed in the High Court in Mumbai and is scheduled to heard on 13th February

www.savedsc.com

Sign the petition to ask the Government of Maharashtra to stop taking a regressive and anti people stance

Please Share this petition