Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Jul 2: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Wednesday staged a protest against the BJP government's reported decision to lease the newly developed Campal Football Ground and Stadium Complex to a private operator, alleging that the move amounted to commercialising a public asset built with taxpayers' money.
The protest comes amid growing public opposition to the proposal, with the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) indicating that the government would not proceed against public sentiment. However, differing statements from various government departments have added to the uncertainty over the future of the Rs 30-crore sports complex.
A Congress delegation, led by GPCC Media and Communications Department chairman Amarnath Panjikar, gheraoed GSUDA officials and submitted a memorandum demanding that the reported lease proposal be withdrawn.
The delegation also included party spokesperson Amit Palekar, Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari, Youth Congress president Archit Naik, former Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) mayor Surendra Furtado and Mahila Congress president Pratiksha Khalap.
The Congress said the nearly 40,000-square metre sports complex, developed entirely with public funds, was built to promote football, athletics and community sports and should remain accessible to the public rather than being commercially operated.
Addressing reporters, Palekar alleged that the BJP government was systematically handing over public assets to private entities.
"The BJP government is systematically putting Goa on sale. Prime public properties are being sacrificed for commercial interests. We will not allow Goa's future to be auctioned," he said.
He also questioned why no government department was willing to take responsibility for the reported proposal, accusing the administration of avoiding accountability.
Palekar further alleged that public sports infrastructure was increasingly being used for commercial purposes, citing the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium as an example.
Panjikar accused the BJP of treating public infrastructure as a commercial opportunity rather than a public trust.
"Goa's playgrounds belong to the people, not contractors or private companies. If this proposal is not withdrawn, our agitation will intensify," he warned.
Youth Congress president Archit Naik alleged that the government was betraying the state's youth by attempting to privatise public facilities.
Former CCP mayor Surendra Furtado urged the government to hand over the sports complex to the Sports Authority of Goa for professional management while ensuring free public access for residents and sports enthusiasts.
Earlier, former MLA Dattaprasad Naik, CCP councillor Leonid Furtado, advocate Vishnu Naik and Mangesh Vernekar had also opposed the reported lease proposal, arguing that a sports facility built entirely with public funds should not be transferred to a private operator.
Responding to the criticism, GSUDA Member Secretary Brijesh Manerkar said the tender process was intended only to explore possible monetisation options for the facility.
"Given the current public sentiment, the minister has taken note of these concerns, and the government has no intention of proceeding against the people's aspirations," Manerkar said.
The issue has also highlighted differing views within the government. Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier stated that the Campal ground would be transferred to the Corporation of the City of Panaji, while Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar distanced his department from the controversy, saying the facility falls under the Smart City project and not the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs or the Sports Authority of Goa.