The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has decided to scrap its move to hand over the sports complex at Campal to a private entity. The GSUDA has now sought permission to hand over the facility to the Corporation of the City of Panaji for maintenance and operations. The GSUDA's original plan was to award a 10-year commercial licence to a private concessionaire to operate the 40,000 sqmt facility, which includes an upscale restaurant, football pitch, sports academy, parking hards, and corporate advertisement locations.The plan saw a strong backlash from civil society, sportspersons and the opposition parties and the government had to buckle.The whole plan was a scam from the start but ultimately people's power prevailed again. Good for Goa, now only if they scrap Sec 39-A pronto.
KRISHNOMIKA, Mumbai
