PORVORIM: Goa Cricket Association (GCA) announced on Wednesday, that the wait is about to get over for the laying of the foundation stone for the international cricket stadium, set to be constructed at Dhargal, North Goa. The GCA also revealed the all-round benefits from the sweeping reforms brought into practice by the managing committee over the last two years.
On a gala evening at the GCA Academy ground here with over 80 clubs in attendance, Chief Minister Dr . Pramod Sawant assured all support in GCA’s endeavour for development. “I urge all of you to come together for cricket. Put an end to politics in the sport. I promise to resolve the issue (lease of Porvorim ground) before the beginning of the New Year. I also promise to help in every which way, in the matters pertaining to the international cricket stadium,” said Dr Sawant.
Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar was delighted with the speed of groundwork done by the GCA as his Pernem constituency will soon have an international cricket landmark. “When the international stadium is built, we will have jobs opportunity for locals. Moreover, adjoining facilities will come up and thus the rural areas will see a lot of development,” said Azgaonkar showering praises on GCA president Suraj Lotlikar.
Suraj Lotlikar, President GCA also declared that the GCA Managing Committee’s target is set to be achieved with the decks cleared to lay the foundation stone anytime as all necessary permissions from the authorities have been acquired, and the only pending task is the approach road to be built by the Sports department. He also informed that BCCI will provide Rs 100 crore grant for the stadium construction.
Uday Joshi & Associates Architects presented the plan for the 32-thousand capacity cricket stadium at Dhargal-Pernem, to be constructed over the area of 2 lakh square metres area.
The GCA President also explained that the state cricket governing body had saved Rs 42 crores in tax by complying with the 12AA facility of the Income Tax Department via the ‘Vivaad se Vishwas’ scheme. He also added that most of the tax-related issues faced by the GCA, had been resolved.
Disclosing the key aspects of the administrative changes brought into the system, Lotlikar explained the mechanism of empanelling the vendors for various requirements whereby the competitive bidder gets the deal and GCA has monetary savings from the transaction.
GCA secretary Vipul Phadke emphasised that the continual efforts to build on the infrastructure with various MoUs, and increase the bench strength, are vital to providing fresh impetus to the growth of cricket in Goa.
Phadke also credited the encouraging results in the men’s and women’s cricket in the 2021 season, to all-round development undertaken by the GCA managing committee. He highlighted the entry for former players into the coaching fold, with the spirit of giving back to the game.
Phadke declared the plan to setup ‘centres of excellence’ soon to boost the preparations of the Under-19s and Ranji Trophy probables; while plans are also in the pipeline to revive the residential academy at Porvorim.
