The Gachibowli Stadium, a much sought-after sports complex, which was a brain child of Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, has turned out to be a white elephant today.
The state government is not in a position to maintain it, and the Kiran Kumar Reddy government has decided to rent out the well-constructed stadium, which hosted the National Games during the TDP regime.
So far arrears worth Rs. 48 crore have piled up due to the non-payment of bills by the stadium's authorities.
The government is now trying to wriggle out of the situation, by renting it out to private parties, for the purpose of generating revenue.
Sports and Tourism Minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar told media persons at the Secretariat on Saturday that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had taken a decision to this effect at a review meeting chaired by the latter.
Also, district Collectors were directed to identify land in the mandal head-quarters in all districts, for constructing mini sports stadia, as the government now has plans to appoint coaches for every mandal in order to encourage young sportspersons.
The Collectors were told to allot 5 to 7 acres for each stadium, for this purpose.
The Chief Minister has also sanctioned Rs. 4.17 crore to be given to 451 sportsmen as incentives.
A decision was also taken to begin a special program - the Rajiv Employment Mission - on August 20, to generate employment opportunities among unemployed youth. (INN)