Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The centrally located Shivaji Maharaj Maidan in Bicholim town has been neglected by the authorities and in need of urgent attention.
Speaking to Herald, some of the citizens highlighted the poor condition of the ground and told that it is neglected by the Bicholim Municipal Council and the State government.
The citizens complained that the tiles surrounding the ground which were meant for sitting for the spectators have been falling into pieces and the grass, which was placed has been almost non existing.
The ground was renovated some years back by spending about Rs two crore and today the condition of the ground is very poor. The people and the players have demanded that the ground be repaired immediately.
Rajanikant Lawanis, who was himself a footballer and former chairperson of BMC, expressed his sadness over the entire episode.
“It is very sad to see the plight of the ground today which has not been maintained. Now youngsters have taken over and so the BMC should utilise its fund to maintain the ground,” Lawanis said.
“The motto of the BMC is `Beautiful and clean Bicholim’ but it is sad to see that the centrally located ground is totally neglected. The BMC and the government should look into this matter,” he said.
Another citizen, Nazir Baig said that the authorities should look into this matter on urgent basis.
“The BMC is aware about it but is ignoring the matter. The tiles are falling apart, the grass has vanished and there are also potholes on the ground. Now, the football tournaments will soon begin thereby necessitating the urgency to repair the ground,” Baig said.
The BMC has placed a dustbin but the people are littered everywhere, Baig said requesting the BMC to look into the matter.
When contacted, BMC chairperson Kundan Falari said that the municipality will soon undertake the repair work of the ground. “We know that the condition of the ground is not good and it is difficult to maintain the grass. Even we are getting exorbitant water bill so we have asked the GSUDA to install artificial grass on the ground. GSUDA will also repair the ground at an estimated cost of Rs one crore,” Falari informed.
