The cricket stadium project of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) in association with the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has been put on hold following apprehensions over the lack of clarity in the financial gains for the varsity and handing over of the prime six-acre land to a private body on a long-term basis.
The loss incurred by the University of Kerala after it had handed over 37 acres on lease for the construction of Greenfield Stadium at Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, has been cited by the authorities as a case in point for not going ahead with the multi-crore project in haste, according to sources. According to the draft agreement for a period of 33 years, the cricketing body would have the right to use the six-acre land for developing the stadium and allied infrastructure.
An RTI filed by the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) had revealed that the University of Kerala had yet to receive over ₹80 crore towards lease rent for 37 acres of land leased out for the construction of the Greenfield Stadium at Kariavattom. The university had inked concession agreements with the National Games Secretariat and Kariavattom Sports Facilities Limited in 2012.
The stadium project ran into controversy after the SUCC lodged a complaint before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, blaming former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) K.K. Geethakumary and a section of the Left-backed Syndicate members for aiding the commercial interests of the KCA by supporting the project.
