Kochi: Even as a controversy rages over move to hand over the stadium complex of the MG University at Athirampuzha to the Kerala Sports Council (KSC), the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Sabu Thomas, has written to the Governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, that a decision on it will be taken only after detailed discussion, safeguarding the interest of the university.
This was submitted when the Governor sought an explanation from the university after a complaint was submitted to him by the Mahatma Gandhi University Employees Union against handing over of the stadium to KSC. The VC in his explanation to the Governor pointed out that the State Sports and Youth Affairs Department - under which the KSC comes - requested the university on January 12, 2018 to hand over 10 acres of land under its possession to construct Susan Mable Indoor Stadium, utilising KIIFB fund, as suggested by Suresh Kurup, MLA. The prior consent of the university was not sought in this regard.
He said that the Syndicate of the university considered the MoU prepared by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department in this regard on June 30 last and referred it to the Syndicate sub-committee on planning and development to examine the case in detail. The sub-committee is yet to submit its report.Though Suresh Kurup once again pressed on the matter in a letter dated December 22 last, the Syndicate meeting on January 22 did not consider the case as the matter was being examined by the sub-committee.
The letter informed the Governor that the university has not taken any decision to hand over 10 acres of land to the State Sports and Youth Affairs Department.
University sources said that the Syndicate sub-committee will submit its report in this regard to the Syndicate meeting scheduled for March 18. Mahatma Gandhi University Employees Union general secretary N Mahesh said that the union at no cost will allow the transfer of the stadium complex to KSC.
