PANJIM: Goa Sports Foundation (GSF) has demanded the re-tender of the St Cruz ground renovation.
GSF in a release said Syncotts International which has been awarded the contract for laying of synthetic Football turf at Santa-Cruz had earlier been allotted a contract for laying an astro turf for Peddem hockey ground which had to be later replaced.
L Roncon, GSF Secretary General, cautioned that villagers of Santa-Cruz saying they should stop this proposal given to Syncotts and re-tender the bid.
GSF said that Former Executive Director, Sports Authority of India of India (SAI) and GSF President Roque Dias had brought two parting gifts from Govt. of India for the development of sports in St Cruz — laying of FIFA approved Synthetic Football Surface and adoption of St Cruz HS for development of volleyball, says a release from GSF.
A master plan was made at the request of St Cruz villagers and forwarded to the Govt by local MLA Antonio Fernandes with inputs from Dias who had attended the Manchester conference and visited the Arsenal club in 2017. This plan included renovation of the St Cruz football ground
Shripad Naik, Union Minister sent a letter on June 17, 2019 to Sports Minister demanding Rs 7 Cr instead of Rs 4.24 Cr under the existing scheme, but surprisingly the state department forwarded the proposal for only Rs 4.24 Cr for laying of synthetic football surface without any revised proposal, the release adds.
Subsequently, a letter dated March 1, 2021 saw Santa-Cruz MLA Fernandes proceeding to Delhi to recover the balance amount of Rs 2.76 Cr, from the Centre, but without success.
Significantly, at the first meeting of Sports Ministry, GoI, the proposal of Pernem Sports Complex of State Sports Minister’s constituency was rejected in Feb 19, and only laying of synthetic Football surface at Santa-Cruz was approved. GSF has now demanded that the project be re-rendered and once that is done, with the same amount floodlights, sand track, mini indoor pool for rehabilitation can be developed and demand for remaining balance amount of Rs 2.76 Cr, from the Centre.
