Saina’s badminton academy won’t get 10 acres, Gurgaon shrinks size of plot

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Gurgaon mayor Vimal Yadav said the corporation at the most can allot 3-4 acres. “Although the House initially passed a plan to allot 10 acres, the House has come to the conclusion that the corporation can only spare 3-4 acres, as it would be sufficient to build a badminton academy,” he said. “We respect Saina Nehwal, her achievements and the name she has bought to India. But, as of now, this issue is not on the agenda of the corporation,” he said.

“The MCG is short of land. We will put forth this proposal, but if the party feels they would not be able to do without 10 acres, perhaps the Haryana Urban Development Authority can be approached,” the mayor said.

“We have not had any communication with the government since August-September before the elections last year. And they have not informed us of anything since the government changed. Saina has been busy playing and competing and we have not had time to check up on this in the last few months. We don’t even have people to keep running behind the government, so we decided we will wait for them to inform us, but heard nothing,” Harvir Singh, Saina’s father, said.

“We were told by the last government that after reconsideration, we would get 8 acres. We had told them that we would help out with the technical support and they could take calls on other matters like land. But whatever is happening right now, we are not aware of,” he said.

Under the original plan, Nehwal was to be allotted 10 acres in Sikanderpur Ghosi village, near Sector 27 behind Pullman Hotel on MG Road.

Sources told Newsline that the land in question could not be allotted even though the plan was passed in the 2014 Budget because of “encroachments”.

Former MCG Commissioner Praveen Kumar tried to remove them, but faced opposition from villagers of Sikanderpur Ghosi.

“Even though these encroachments still exist, we can continue having them as a sign of respect to these structures and the sentiments of local people. Also, if the party agrees to take 4 acres of land that we are offering, these encroachments would not be a part of it,” the mayor said.

Sources said the price of the land will be decided by the reserve price fixation committee constituted by the government for this purpose.