Former Chairman and Senior Steward of the BTC, Dr K M Srinivasa Gowda, confirmed that BTC were handed over the lease deed by the government. “We received the lease deed today. It is being vetted by BTC ‘s legal experts. Once they give us the green signal then we will revert back to the government,” Gowda said.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had assured a BTC delegation on Monday that racing activity at the Race Course Road premises could go on even after December 31, the day on which the lease period of the area expires. “The honourable Chief Minister gave us six months’ extension and asked the turf club to go ahead with the winter races.
CM also said he would instruct the finance secretary to enable the BTC to carry on till such time the club is able to put the alternative infrastructure in place,” added Gowda, who was a member of the delegation that met the chief minister on Monday.
Monitoring progress
However, Yeddyurappa reiterated that the government would monitor the progress of the work at the new venue before thinking of extending the lease period after the winter races scheduled from November to March. “The CM said he would consider another extension only if BTC showed positive intention to move out of the present premises. He urged us to try and construct new infrastructure at the earliest. Permission to continue at the current premises would be accorded based on the progress shown in the construction of the new race course,” said interim chairman of BTC, V Harimohan Naidu.
Gowda said BTC was seeking more land in Chikkajala so that they could build the new infrastructure with all modern facilities. “Government allotted us 85 acres of land which is just a few acres more than what we have now. So we have asked for another 60 acres more to build a spacious race course. The government gave assurance that they will look into the matter soon.”
The lease period of Chikkajala land will be 30 years with a yearly lease amount of Rs 50000 per acre.