Coimbatore playground being used to host exhibitions

COIMBATORE: Shastri Maidan in Arockiasamy Road, the only standalone playground in R S Puram and Saibaba Colony, is closed for any kind of sporting activities for the past 10 days and will continue to be so at least for another week.
The ground, which is the main hub for cricket, football, volleyball, basketball practice and even jogging, has been confined to host an exhibition of products made by women's self-help groups, forcing upcoming sportspersons to either ditch practice sessions or find another alternative.A group of 60 sportspersons recently submitted a complaint to mayor P Rajkumar stating that one of the city's few playgrounds is being shut for play and used to host an exhibition.
"The ground is used throughout the day, mostly by early morning walkers, women learning to ride two-wheelers, youngsters enjoying a game of cricket and school children playing volleyball and football," said S K Babu, a cricketer living in Gandhipark.
Sportspersons say there are many playgrounds in the city, but most are attached to corporation schools or are not big enough for cricket and football. "This ground is used to host tournaments like the recently held Amma Cricket Cup and so many club cups. There is no ground with this size and shape anywhere in the heart of the city," said B Yuvaraj, another cricketer. They say this ground has seen many of its cricket players qualify to play at the club and district level.
The Coimbatore Corporation on its own accord had passed a rule two years back stating that playgrounds should not be used for any other purposes but sports. "That rule came at a time when too many playgrounds were being converted into parks, leaving children with no space to play," said a senior corporation official. Several sportspersons had also complained that the ground had been given to a circus group two years ago.
Players say that accommodating such events has led to the ground deteriorating over the years. "They often put up pillars and poles for which they dig holes all over the ground and even through the concrete pitch put up at a cost of Rs1.25lakh," said Yuvaraj. "They also eat and never dispose their plates and food properly," he said.
Corporation officials admitted that they had not refused the renting out of the ground because 'it is a government supported initiative.'