Guwahati, Jan. 12: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) today announced that the foundation for a cricket stadium would be laid at Barsapara near here after Magh Bihu.

The ground, which belongs to the SOS village, has been a bone of contention between the Guwahati Sports Association (GSA) and the ACA after both staked claims to the 59-bigha plot of land.

ACA president and social welfare minister Gautam Roy said the state government has allotted the ground to the association for building a stadium. “The chief minister has given his consent on the allotment,” he claimed.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had, however, recently promised the GSA that the ground would be divided between the two associations. The GSA has planned to build a football stadium on the disputed ground.

The ACA has already acquired 25 bighas, but require five more bighas to build the facility. The ACA chief said the district administration might evict some of the illegal settlers to clear the place for the stadium.

Roy said the ACA would not object GSA bagging the right to use the “remaining land”.

Dispur had earlier said it was not in a position to allot the plot to anybody since it does not possess the ground. However, Roy said the SOS village forfeited the ownership right to the government because it has not built any infrastructure within the three-year gestation period under the terms of allotment.

“The Fifa, which was supposed to build a football stadium on the plot, also shelved its plan,” he added.

The ACA chief contradicted sports minister Robin Bordoloi’s statement that the Fifa had demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh from the state government and the ACA had agreed to pay the amount. “We are not aware of any such demand. The Fifa does not deserve any reimbursement because it failed to respect the deal with the government,” he said.

The cricket association’s secretary Bikash Baruah had reportedly procured documents in support of the land allotment. He had said the ACA would host inter-district meets at Barsapara from next season.

On the 98-bigha Hengerabari site allotted to the ACA by the previous Asom Gana Parishad government, Roy denied that the plot was allotted to the cricket association. “It was just reserved for the ACA,” he added.

ACA secretary Baruah said the Hengerabari site not suitable for building a stadium. “A survey showed Rs 6 crore would be needed for fill up the ground and an additional Rs 1 crore for the boundary wall. When we went for permanent allotment of the plot, the state government asked for a revenue of Rs 1.65 crore. The BCCI was not ready to fork out so much money,” he said.