The proposed Hisar cricket stadium is in limbo due to a lack of land

The lack of space for the project seems to have put a stop to the idea of building an international cricket stadium and academy. During his visit to Hisar on April 8, 2016, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made a statement in this respect.

Shortly after the CM made this declaration, the hunt for a suitable 76-acre plot of land began. Eventually, to forward the idea, a committee at the district level was also established. But the idea seems to be collecting dust in the official archives, over eight years later.

Social activist Yograj Sharma claimed he has been pushing the idea with the Chief Minister’s, the Home Minister’s, and other high government officials’ offices.

In a note sent to Neeraj, the Additional Deputy Commissioner for Hisar, Sharma requested that the 76-acre Government Livestock Farm (GLF) property be turned over to the Municipal Corporation. He stated that after the chief minister’s pronouncement, the district administration established a committee and designated 73 acres of GLF property on the town’s Sirsa road. To supply around 70–75 acres of land for the project, the District Sports Officer did, however, write a letter to the Chief Superintendent of Government Livestock Farm. But in December 2020, the GLF Chief Superintendent informed the DSO by letter that property of such size (about 70–75 acres) was not available with it.

The Municipal Corporation’s Executive Engineer wrote to Chandigarh’s Director of Urban Local Bodies in April 2021, stating that the municipal body might establish a stadium-turned-academy if the necessary land and funding were provided.

According to Sharma, 73 acres of the GLF property in Sirsa have been set aside for the development of a new Civil Hospital structure in Hisar. But he pleaded with the district government, “The land should be given to the MCH or the newly formed Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) for the construction of the cricket stadium and academy since it hasn’t been transferred to the Health Department for the construction of a hospital.”

Baljeet Girdhar, a cricket coach and member of the committee constituted by the district government, said that while they had located the site on the Sirsa road, nothing further had been done on the topic. He said it was an excellent idea since the area has a lot of potential for the growth of sports, particularly cricket.

Recall that on April 8, 2016, the Chief Minister said that building a world-class stadium in the town would be a wonderful idea, estimating that the project would cost around Rs 240 crore. Additionally, the CM instructed authorities to do a thorough feasibility study for the project.

A panel was arranged.

Shortly after the CM made this declaration, the hunt for a suitable 76-acre plot of land began. Eventually, to forward the idea, a committee at the district level was also established. But the idea seems to be collecting dust in the official archives, over eight years later.