Cuttack, Dec 19: The land ownership transfer has stood as a hurdle before the Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) for facelift of Barabati Stadium in the city.
A budget of Rs 600 crore has been laid out for the renovation of Barabati Stadium.
The OOA had filed a petition in Orissa High Court after cancellation of the land lease. The court had directed the state government to transfer the land ownership to OOA but the file has not been approved by the government.
The Odisha government had leased out the total 26 acre and 700 decimal land to the OOA in 1949-50 at Rs 1 for development of sports in the state. The OOA had given the land to Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on basis of sub-lease.
The OCA made the Barabati Stadium as an international stadium with approval of the BCCI and the land renewal process was being undertaken in every 30 years gap. The OOA had applied for the record of rights of the land. However, OOA's application for renewal got cancelled in 2001-02. Later, the OOA filed a petition in Orissa High Court. The court directed the state government to transfer record of rights to OOA. The state government is yet to transfer the land rights.
According to the new rules of BCCI, it is releasing funds to those cricket bodies who have own land or leased land on its name.
