The state government has decided to demolish the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and build it afresh to make it suitable for national and international-level sporting events, sports minister Sheochandra Ram announced in the Assembly on Friday.
"We have taken a policy decision to do away with the old structure of the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and build it afresh so that Ranji, Indian Premier League and other cricketing events of national and international standard could be organised at the venue," the minister, who also holds the art, culture and youth affairs portfolio, said.
Moin-ul-Haq Stadium at Rajendra Nagar in central Patna has been in a dilapidated condition for about two decades. The minister, however, did not say when the renovation would start.
Replying to a debate on the budgetary demand of his ministry, Sheochandra said: "We are happy to learn that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally accorded full membership to the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA). The development has opened new opportunities for the sporting talents of the state. The cricketers from Bihar will not have to go to Gujarat, Punjab, Bengal and Rajasthan to build their career in cricket."
The Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, which in 1996 hosted a World Cup match between Zimbabwe and Kenya, is crying for attention today, thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities.
The stadium hosted another international match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 1993. However, after the 1996 World Cup match, no major cricketing event was held at the stadium.
Sheochandra added that the state has been through many fortunate developments recently in the sports and culture arena.
"The Unesco has incorporated the ruins of the ancient seat of learning at Nalanda in the World Heritage site. The art and culture department had made yeoman efforts for the induction of the Nalanda ruins in the World Heritage site," he said.
The minister added that the government had also planned to develop Premchand Rangshala near Gandhi Maidan into a cultural centre.
"The vacant land of the Premchand Rangshala will be developed as a rehearsal venue. The government has sanctioned hostels on the Rangshala's land for artistes. It will attract performers from across the country apart from Bihar," he said.
The minister demanded Bharat Ratna for the "greatest Bhojpuri artiste", bard and poet, Bhikhari Thakur, also known as the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri".
"If a folk artiste Bob Dylan can get a Noble, why can't Bhikhari Thakur get a Bharat Ratna?" Sheochandra asked.
He said by successfully organising the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, Bihar has earned praise from as many as 90 countries across the world.
The minister added that the work was in progress on a war-footing to build a national-level memorial and library at Sitab Diara - the birthplace of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan - in north Bihar's Saran district.
"The memorial and library is coming up on 5.35 acres at a cost of Rs 4.37 crore and 90 per cent work is complete," he said. BJP members walked out of the House during the minister's reply, calling it "unsatisfactory".
The department has also identified land for a stadium in Rajgir, around 100km from Patna.
Around 45 acres near the Tilkhi panchayat of Rajgir has been earmarked for construction of the stadium.
