Goemkapronn desk
PONDA: The Bahusaheb Bandodkar Football ground issue dominated Bandora Gramsabha, which passed a resolution asking PWD to hand over the ground back to Bandora Panchayat.
According to villagers, the ground was earlier used by locals only for playing cricket and was in possession of the Panchayat.
A few years back, PWD took over the development of the football ground however failed to hand over this ground back to Bandora Panchayat despite several resolutions passed by Villagers.
Villager Dinesh Naik said since villagers have no other ground for local sportsmen, the villagers want this ground back into possession of the Panchayat.
The locals also need help getting the ground for their regular sports activities and need to obtain Special permission from PWD and can’t use it regularly.
Further, they said, the PWD doesn’t maintain it and uses it for private programmes, functions of private organisations, and political parties, depriving locals of use for sports purposes due to which the ground is dug for erecting pandals and the condition of it is worsen and dangerous for a sportsperson.
The walking track is also not maintained, and this ground has become kept by PWD in its possession for vested interest.
Naik further said PWD must hand over this ground back to Panchayat possession. He also opposed the tender for an additional new walking track alongside the ground, which will reduce the size of the ground.
Bandora Sarpanch Sukanand Kurpaskar said there is already a reply from PWD to villagers’ demand stating that PWD had acquired the land of the said football ground and that PWD is capable of maintaining the ground.
Sarpanch further said that Panchayat would help Mollekar or farmers cultivating vegetables in monsoon by providing them water and power connection. He also said that villagers passed a resolution to replace old electricity conductors.
