Kochi Corporation seeks control of Parade, Santa Cruz grounds from Revenue dept.
The Kochi Corporation has passed a resolution seeking control of the historic Parade and Santa Cruz grounds from the Revenue department to improve their maintenance. Local officials argue that the grounds have suffered from years of neglect and should be better managed for youth sports.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights common bureaucratic challenges in urban governance regarding the maintenance and accessibility of public recreational spaces.
As part of a broader effort to make more playgrounds accessible to the youth, the Kochi Corporation Council has passed a resolution, which has since been forwarded to the State government, seeking control over the historic Parade and Santa Cruz grounds in Fort Kochi, currently managed by the Revenue department.
The resolution follows widespread complaints about the pitiable state of the grounds, iconic Fort Kochi landmarks with a rich history, which have allegedly suffered years of neglect. The Parade Ground last underwent major maintenance in 2017, when it was given a facelift with fresh grass after being chosen as a practice turf for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup, a few matches of which were hosted in Kochi. The Santa Cruz Ground, too, remains far from ideal.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in