Documents have emerged showing that the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) had rented the Jawaharlal International Stadium in Kaloor to Mridanga Imaginative and prescient, organizers of the mass dance event where Uma Thomas, MLA, suffered a horrific fall, ignoring a file that marks his heritage. superintendent.
RTI activist Cheshire Tarzan, who had obtained the relevant documents, lodged a complaint with the Ernakulam unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) seeking an investigation into the alleged conspiracy and corruption involving the president of the GCDA, Okay. Chandran Pillai, and officials. interested in renting the stadium for a non-sporting event.
Mridanga Imaginative and prescient normal director M. Nigoshkumar had reportedly applied for the lease of the stadium on September 24, 2024. In response, the superintendent of the property, Sini KA, noted on the record that the stadium had been assigned to the Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters FC for home matches from September 2024 to April 2025. “Since the grass must be maintained as per standards internationals required by FIFA and currently the stadium is reserved only for soccer. matches, the applicant may be informed that their application cannot be considered. As the applicant has written to the GCDA chairman, this can also be communicated to the chairman,” he said.
However, the estate manager reportedly ignored the note and signed the file. On October 15, 2024, the GCDA secretary reportedly noted on record that the stadium could be awarded once the organizers obtained a no-objection certificate from Kerala Blasters FC. On the same day, Mr. Pillai allegedly commented on the record that since the program was planned off the grass, the stadium could be allotted a rent of ₹9 lakh and a deposit of ₹5 lakh. Mridanga Imaginative and prescient reportedly transferred ₹13 lakh to GCDA bank account on the same day.
“But the president unilaterally decided to award the stadium even before the organizers submitted a letter of consent from Kochi Company or no-objection certificates from the fire and rescue services department and the police. Mridanga Imaginative and prescient had directly approached the president and his application was sent to the property wing with his signature. Typically, these applications are processed by creating a file, which is first vetted by the heritage wing and the secretary before reaching the president. Then the executive committee resolves the assignment and sets the rent,” said Tarzan.
The conditions laid down by the GCDA for the award of the stadium specify that the temporary structures can only be constructed after obtaining prior approval from the Corporation and the Fire and Rescue Services.
Furthermore, the GCDA has not issued any notice to the organizers despite the serious injuries Ms Thomas suffered when she fell from the gallery’s makeshift stage. Mr. Tarzan also alleged that the Corporation incurred financial losses due to the lack of intervention by the Revenue Inspector, even though the event was widely publicized.
Published – January 4, 2025 09:52 pm IST
