BTC Asked to Vacate Premises by December 31 |
| The future of The Bangalore Turf Club existing and operating out of its present premises came under a shadow, when the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri BS Yediyurappa today confirmed that his Government is not willing to grant any extensions beyond the deadline of December 31, 2009 announced a few months ago. The Managing Committee of the Club was called to attend a joint meeting with the Politicians and the Bureaucracy ruling the State. The CM was unwilling to listen to any reasoning in favour of giving more time to the Club to re-locate its operations. He confirmed that his Government was willing to allot alternate land on the outskirts of Bangalore city, give a tax holiday to the Club in order to help in building a new infrastructure, but wanted the existing premises back at the end of the year. He asked his officers to render all help and co-operation to the BTC in the interim period. It is difficult to understand the urgency on the part of the Government. In the last couple of years, the local corporation has shaved off more than 15 acres of land in order to undertake road widening operations. The BTC has lost more than 200 stables in the process. The present size of the Club is bursting at the seams, and things become pretty tight when almost 300 youngsters arrive at the beginning of each year. The need for a bigger and better set-up is definitely required. Not going into the merits of what the past Committee's of BTC may or may not have done, the present group has limited options. It is time for them to consider them, make a choice and move forward. The first option is the one which has found favour with all concerned. It agrees to shift operations to the land identified by the Government and likely to be allotted to them. It allows them to retain their revenues in the garb of a tax holiday, and utilize these funds to create a world-class racing facility at the new location. But, this option requires time. It will take a couple of years to do this, and the Chief Minister should allow them to function from the current premises during that period. He is not ready to accede to this request, and this could lead to multiple problems. Almost 7,000 people are directly involved in this industry. It will render them unemployed and homeless, causing huge social and economic problems. Owners have spent Crores while buying race horses. Where do they take them? The CM has suggested an alternative. He has asked the Mysore Race Club to accommodate these horses. To facilitate this activity, he has granted a concession of 2% towards the Government taxes payable by them. He has also asked them to make new stables in order to house the same. The Mysore Race Club has agreed to help in this matter. But then, this alternative is totally unviable. There is hardly any infrastructure in place at that Club. There are inadequate facilities to house and train expensive horseflesh. A simple thing like an equine swimming facility is absent at that centre. They don’t have their own rules of racing, and a joint committee to run and supervise racing is likely to add to the confusion. Moreover, many owners may be reluctant to shift their horses away from Bangalore. The third and final option is a legal one. The BTC can go to the court and seek a stay on this move. In the interest of the Owners, Employees, Professionals and the Horses themselves, the Club can seek time from the courts. They can pray that they are ready to comply with the Government’s instructions, but need a couple of years to put their house in order. Considering the fact that the Government wants to retain this acreage as a lung space for this bursting city, and not exploit it commercially, a prayer for more time will definitely hold ground. Since the Government does not want to use this land for an urgent national requirement, its case for immediate repossession will stand diluted. It is learnt that the members of the BTC are going to decide the future plan of action. Each one of them is interested in saving the sport, in the welfare of the race horses, the livelihood of thousands of its employees and the eminence of this well-known institution. As already detailed, they have only three distinct routes to follow. First and foremost to try and convince Shri Yediyurappa to grant them sufficient time to get a new race course operational. Secondly, to consider shifting its racing activities temporarily to Mysore, and finally to seek a legal solution for this problem from the High Court of Karnataka. The entire racing fraternity is watching with keen anticipation. |
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