Guwahati, May 11: The board of sports has allotted the space under the Nehru Stadium galleries for the Assam Cricket Association (ACA)’s proposed indoor cricket pitch.

“We allotted the area between gate number 2 and 3 of the Nehru Stadium for laying a concrete pitch for training during the rainy season. However, no permanent structure will be allowed to be constructed at the space given to the ACA,” Rajib Prakash Baruah, the board’s officer on special duty, said.

The board has permitted the ACA to lay a concrete pitch and install lighting equipment at the space under the galleries.

However, the ACA will have to vacate the place without any compensation whenever the board requires the place.

Baruah, who is also the deputy director of sports, said the ACA could increase the height of the stadium wall separating it from the adjoining road if required. “But the ACA will not be compensated for the construction.”

ACA secretary Bikash Baruah said construction of the pitch and other arrangements started today. The indoor facility is expected to be ready by May 20.

One side of the facility will be covered with fibreglass and the wall along the stadium boundary will be raised.

The ACA targeted the space under the gate numbers 2 and 3 after the board turned down the proposal to build the indoor facility between gate numbers 10 and 11.

The area under gate numbers 10 and 11 has been allotted to Larsen and Toubro, the company constructing an indoor stadium and other facilities inside the R.G. Baruah Sports Complex for the 2005 National Games.

In between the two proposals, the ACA had planned to erect a makeshift arrangement with steel posts and tarpaulin on the Nehru Stadium ground. The idea was abandoned because it was not technically feasible.

The ACA desperately needed an indoor facility to train the players during the long rainy season in the state.

The idea was endorsed by senior India team physical trainer Ranadeep Moitra, who has offered to train the Assam Ranji Trophy and age-group teams.

Moitra had said the indoor facility was important for the players to keep fit and train during the monsoon.

Many independent obeservers had said the state has suffered severe losses in the hands of good teams because the players do not get enough training during the rainy season.

The ACA, which does not have a ground or stadium of its own, has proposed to build a cricket stadium at the Barsapara SOS Village ground here. The proposed stadium will have an indoor facility.

The Veteran Cricket Association of Assam has also proposed to build a Rs 45-crore indoor facility at Judges Field.

Though the boundary for the facility has been completed, the project has yet to kick off for various reasons.

President of the veterans’ crciket association said construction would begin as soon as it gets rid of the commercial fairs from the ground.