UDF MLAs protest at GCDA meeting over stadium issue not figuring in agenda

The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) representatives staged a strong protest during the general council meeting of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) held here on Wednesday, objecting to the controversies surrounding the allocation of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium to a private company for renovation not being included in the meeting’s agenda.

UDF MLAs T.J. Vinod, and Uma Thomas stated that the allocation of the stadium for renovation should have been discussed in advance by the general council, considering its role as the policy-making body of the GCDA. They argued that discussing the matter solely in the executive council was inadequate, as it was merely an advisory body meant to assist the chairman in day-to-day affairs.

“We sought clarity on the nature of the work being undertaken, the scale of investment involved, and who was certifying the work. The chairman was vague when asked whether a tripartite agreement existed among the concerned agencies and the private sponsor regarding the stadium’s renovation. However, he denied that the private sponsor would enjoy any special privileges over the stadium beyond the contract period ending November 30. He added that if the sponsor was to bring in an international match later, their investment would then be taken into consideration,” said Mr. Vinod.

Ms. Thomas raised concerns about whether the construction of the new outer compound wall would hinder evacuation within three minutes in the event of an emergency. She recalled how her own evacuation took nearly 15 minutes after she fell from an elevated platform during a function at the stadium last December.

The executive council meeting of the GCDA was also held. GCDA chairman K. Chandran Pillai stated that the procedural formalities related to the stadium’s allocation had been reported in both the general council and the executive council. “The GCDA has decided to make the necessary interventions to ensure that the renovation works are completed and the stadium is handed back by November 30. The stadium was handed over at the direction of the State government. The procedural formalities followed were endorsed by both the general council and the executive council,” he said.