Association appeals to Divisional Commissioner for relief
VHA seeks its Patron Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ intervention
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, July 24, 2026
IN A massive setback to hockey activities in city, the District Collector has terminated the lease of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) and asked the Tehsildar to take possession of the piece of land.
The order, dated July 17, 2026, contends that VHA had ceased to satisfy the conditions needed to continue the lease. It came after an adverse report submitted by the District Sports Office which flagged lack of facilities for players and holding of tournaments at the ground.
A livid VHA has moved the Divisional Commissioner to look into the matter and quash the order passed by the District Collector.
VHA is in possession of the 3.8 acres of land on Amravati Road since 1962. The lease was renewed in 2007 for 30 years and it was to continue till 2037.
The Collector, in a couple of show-cause notices, had asked VHA to furnish all the documents of the lease and sought to know whether the lease rules were being followed in toto. The association had complied with the notices and also appeared for hearing.
“VHA also attached the letter of District Sports Office which praised and thanked the association for providing the facility to conduct inter-school hockey last year (2025),” said Krishna Joshi, VHA co-ordinator appointed by Administrator TN Sidhra.
“It is surprising that only VHA is targeted and not any other association,” stated Joshi while talking with ‘The Hitavada’.
In the order, the Collector also mentioned that the annual lease fee was not paid for several years. Other reasons for cancellation of lease include; ground is not maintained, uneven bushes all around, absebce of astro-turf, an open nullah which can cause injury to players, no goalposts, no marking, no drainage system, no changing room, no clean drinking water and absence of other facilities.
Joshi termed all the allegations as false.
“The ground has all the facilities including changing rooms, toilets, aqua guard for clean drinking water. This is not a hockey season and the marking is done during the matches/tournaments. How can there be marking in rainy season? The grass cutting starts immediately after rainy season,” stated Joshi.
The association has sought Divisional Commissioner’s intervention in the matter. It has mentioned a recent High Court judgement which directed Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, Commissioner, Pune, to decide on the sports grace marks to VHA players.
The HC had pulled up the Directorate for delay in taking a decision on sports quota concession to VHA players, askeing it to decide within three weeks and convey it to VHA.
“The Directorate is yet to reply us in this matter,” Joshi informed.
The association has also written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also happens to be the Patron of VHA, seeking his intervention.
“I respectfully seek your kind intervention in a matter
which has serious implications not only for the Vidarbha Hockey Association but also for future of hockey in the Vidarbha region.
“We request your goodself to kindly intervene and direct that the matter be reconsidered at the appropriate level, particularly in view of the pending proceedings before the Directorate and the larger public interest involved in preserving this historic sporting institution,” read the letter to Chief Minister Fadnavis, signed by Joshi.
No comments:
Post a Comment