SAI Scores a 'Hole-in-One'

At a time when the price of land at Kowdiar ranges from Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore, the government has leased out Golf Course, prime green stretch of land in the heart of the city, for a mere Rs 1 per acre to the Sports Authority of India. The government had taken such a stand without looking into the fact that the lease amount should have to commensurate with the value of the land that is leased out. The government has decided to hand over 25.38 acres of land of the golf course to SAI.

It is learned that the decision of lease of Rs 1 per acre per year was taken by the Cabinet. Highly placed sources said that the officials in the revenue department had voiced against the meager lease amount as they noted that the lease that was fixed did not commensurate with the value of the land.

It has also to be noted that SAI has been given all the right to use the buildings, structures and other facilities at the Golf Course for Rs 1 per acre for a period of 33 years and extendable later for a further period of 33 years.

Source: #The New Indian Express 

http://epaper.dinamani.com/309548/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/24-07-2014#page/17/1

Golf Course: Govt adds to the confusion over take over

The transfer of the Golf course to the Sports Authority of India has landed up in utter confusion even as the government adds to it mentioning that ''Golf Club'' instead of the ''Golf Course'' will be transferred. The use of the word 'Golf Club' instead of 'Golf Course' in the government order has created confusion as to what exactly the government intends to hand over.

Golf Club is a private club registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Society Registration Act 1955, in 1984. The officials have questioned how the government will be able to transfer a private club registered under this Act. It was the 25 acre Golf Course taken over by the Government during the previous LDF regime that was decided to be transferred to SAI. However, discrepancies have crept in the order dated November 19, which is in possession with Express that says that the Golf Club will be transferred.

Though the government can recommend that the rights of the present golf club members should be protected when handing over the golf course to SAI, it cannot say that the club will be given to another institution.

Moreover, in the order it has been said that the transfer will be be subject to final decision on a case before the Supreme Court regarding its takeover by the government. However, no such case is pending in the Supreme Court and all the cases are now before the High Court, the sources said and added that it was a grave mistake on the part of the government to have issued such an order without looking into the actual position.

Source; The new Indian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/197018/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/12-12-2013#page/17/1