BTC set to get land at Chikkajala
The Karnataka High Court on Monday cleared the hurdles in the way of government allotting the 95 acres of tank bed area at Chikkajala for relocating the Bangalore Race Course. The government has asked the turf club to vacate its existing premises and re-locate at the end of its lease period which expires on December 31, 2009.
The government’s attempt at giving a suitable land had run into trouble as Chikkajala area which was identified as being most suitable by both the government and the turf club came under the purview of the Supreme Court order which prohibited allotment of tank band area for any commercial activity. The government has been able to get the land cleared by the court on the condition that the existing tank bed within the 125 acres will not be meddled with and preserved as a tank. The Chikkajala area has traditionally been a dry area, with ground water reserves too at a premium.
Dr K M Srinivasa Gowda who is the former Chairman and currently the face of BTC struggle to save racing in Bangalore said that the club was yet to see the order. ``We will have no hesitation in taking the land at Chikkajala, ’’ he said.
The Bangalore Turf Club was built way back in 1910 but the venue is inadequate to handle big crowds as the one that came for the Bangalore Derby on Sunday. The structures are old and newer additions have been made in the recent past. The race course land was given on lease by the then Maharaja of Mysore on a perpetual lease for conducting racing activity only. However, the original extent of 85 acres has shrunk significantly, with road expansion eating up several acres of land. Now the race track is almost on the edge of the road and any further expansion will result in the track itself being compromised. The turf club has lost more than 250 stables due to road related works. The undulation of the surface at turf club had helped the club to build about 800 under ground stables which has been its saving grace.
Former Chairman of Turf Authorities of India and Bangalore Turf Club P G Belliappa said that if and when BTC gets the notified land, it would be fantastic for racing. At least we have a place to secure our future, he said. ``All that we require is time to build a modern race course and moratorium on taxes which should help in the club raise the required finances to fund the project.’’
There will be no problem of people coming to the new race course even if it is not centrally located. If off course betting centres are also strategically located, we can reach the turnover that we have been doing in the last decade, he said. Incidentally, it was during Belliappa’s term as the Chairman that the club operated totalizators became a hit as the club was able to get government to allow the club to charge compounding tax in place of fixed tax. The club in turn guaranteed a fixed sum of money every year. The club now grosses over Rs 1000 crores in turn over, with the government taking four per cent of the turnover as its share apart from the various other taxes that it levies in addition to tote tax. ``I only hope that the land will be free from any legal hassles in future,’’ he added.
Wonderful was what Zeyn Mirza, Managing Director of United Racing Bloodstock Breeders said on being told that the High Court has paved the way for BTC to get the land at Chikkajala. ``We can build a modern race course which can incorporate all the latest in technology,’’ he said. ``We can even plan for night racing as well,’’ he added.
The High Court decision has certainly cleared a great deal of anxiety about the future of racing caused by the government’s decision to terminate the lease on December 31, said B Puttanna, President of Karnataka Trainers Association. ``The future of racing is secured if the government magnanimously gives time to build the new infrastructure, he added.
``The High Court’s decision has come as a great relief to racing fraternity. The Chikkajala land is an ideal location for building a new race course as it is on the highway en route to Bangalore International Airport. Connectivity is also excellent,’’ said Arvind Raghavan, Secretary of Karnataka Race Horse Owners Association. ``We are looking forward to the government allotting the land for the purpose of racing,’’ he added.
Though the anxiety about the future of race course has been diluted to a great extent by the High Court order, it remains to be seen how the Bangalore Turf Club raises to the occasion and also bargains time to relocate. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has been adamant that the BTC should vacate its premises on December 31 and conduct its racing activities at Mysore till such time the new infrastructure is ready at the new venue.
The government’s attempt at giving a suitable land had run into trouble as Chikkajala area which was identified as being most suitable by both the government and the turf club came under the purview of the Supreme Court order which prohibited allotment of tank band area for any commercial activity. The government has been able to get the land cleared by the court on the condition that the existing tank bed within the 125 acres will not be meddled with and preserved as a tank. The Chikkajala area has traditionally been a dry area, with ground water reserves too at a premium.
Dr K M Srinivasa Gowda who is the former Chairman and currently the face of BTC struggle to save racing in Bangalore said that the club was yet to see the order. ``We will have no hesitation in taking the land at Chikkajala, ’’ he said.
The Bangalore Turf Club was built way back in 1910 but the venue is inadequate to handle big crowds as the one that came for the Bangalore Derby on Sunday. The structures are old and newer additions have been made in the recent past. The race course land was given on lease by the then Maharaja of Mysore on a perpetual lease for conducting racing activity only. However, the original extent of 85 acres has shrunk significantly, with road expansion eating up several acres of land. Now the race track is almost on the edge of the road and any further expansion will result in the track itself being compromised. The turf club has lost more than 250 stables due to road related works. The undulation of the surface at turf club had helped the club to build about 800 under ground stables which has been its saving grace.
Former Chairman of Turf Authorities of India and Bangalore Turf Club P G Belliappa said that if and when BTC gets the notified land, it would be fantastic for racing. At least we have a place to secure our future, he said. ``All that we require is time to build a modern race course and moratorium on taxes which should help in the club raise the required finances to fund the project.’’
There will be no problem of people coming to the new race course even if it is not centrally located. If off course betting centres are also strategically located, we can reach the turnover that we have been doing in the last decade, he said. Incidentally, it was during Belliappa’s term as the Chairman that the club operated totalizators became a hit as the club was able to get government to allow the club to charge compounding tax in place of fixed tax. The club in turn guaranteed a fixed sum of money every year. The club now grosses over Rs 1000 crores in turn over, with the government taking four per cent of the turnover as its share apart from the various other taxes that it levies in addition to tote tax. ``I only hope that the land will be free from any legal hassles in future,’’ he added.
Wonderful was what Zeyn Mirza, Managing Director of United Racing Bloodstock Breeders said on being told that the High Court has paved the way for BTC to get the land at Chikkajala. ``We can build a modern race course which can incorporate all the latest in technology,’’ he said. ``We can even plan for night racing as well,’’ he added.
The High Court decision has certainly cleared a great deal of anxiety about the future of racing caused by the government’s decision to terminate the lease on December 31, said B Puttanna, President of Karnataka Trainers Association. ``The future of racing is secured if the government magnanimously gives time to build the new infrastructure, he added.
``The High Court’s decision has come as a great relief to racing fraternity. The Chikkajala land is an ideal location for building a new race course as it is on the highway en route to Bangalore International Airport. Connectivity is also excellent,’’ said Arvind Raghavan, Secretary of Karnataka Race Horse Owners Association. ``We are looking forward to the government allotting the land for the purpose of racing,’’ he added.
Though the anxiety about the future of race course has been diluted to a great extent by the High Court order, it remains to be seen how the Bangalore Turf Club raises to the occasion and also bargains time to relocate. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has been adamant that the BTC should vacate its premises on December 31 and conduct its racing activities at Mysore till such time the new infrastructure is ready at the new venue.
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