Yeddy Backtracks: Only Cash, No Plots for World Cup Winners
Bangalore, Apr 7 (IANS): Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has dropped his plan to give 4,000 square feet residential plots to the cricket World Cup winning Indian team members and said each player will get Rs.25 lakh in cash instead.
"Instead the team members will be paid Rs.25 lakh each," Yeddyurappa told reporters here on the margins of a function to inaugurate a museum devoted to Kempe Gowda, founder of Bangalore.
Soon after Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team won the World Cup in Mumbai April 2, Yeddyurappa announced residential plots in Bangalore for each player for bringing the cup to India after a gap of 28 years.
His announcement generated controversy as many sportspersons from Karnataka who were similarly promised plots are yet to get these even after several years.
Yeddyurappa did not refer to the controversy but said rules governing site allotment by the Bangalore Development Authority were coming in the way of giving the plots to the cricketers.
"We have to amend the rules which will take some time. Hence, we have decided to give cash award at a grand function to be organised in Bangalore in consultation with the team," Yeddyurappa said.