A portion of the Barabati stadium in Cuttack. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, March 14: The controversy over ownership of the Barabati stadium, the biggest in the state, has acquired a new dimension with rival groups taking aim at secretary of the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) Ashirbad Behera.

One Rahul Kumar, who claims to be a sports enthusiast, has sent a letter to the BCCI urging it to stop patronising the OCA, which had “illegally” claimed ownership of the stadium.

The ownership issue has been in dispute after the government cancelled its lease with the Orissa Olympic Association (OOA), which had earlier claimed ownership on the stadium. Though the court has maintained status quo on the issue for the past nine years and said that no construction activities should be taken up at the venue, structures kept coming up at the site.

On the issue of lease cancellation, former MLA Behera said: “As the case is sub judice, I don’t want to comment on it. However, the court never stayed construction activities. If we don’t encourage cricket and bring money from other sources, how do we fund different sports organisation across the state and take up development works at Barabati?”

Former council member of the OCA Braja Kishore Nanda said: “The OOA has entered into an agreement with the OCA and allowed it to take up construction activities. As both the organisations are headed by Ashribad Behera, no one has dared to oppose it.”

Eminent sports personality Ananda Nayak said: “The main purpose of the OOA is to promote sports. However, except cricket, all other sports are being neglected. There is no turf for hockey in the state.”

Similarly, football lovers also have complaints against the OCA and the OOA. However, as Behera’s son Sanjay Behera is the secretary of the newly formed Football Association of Orissa, no footballer is willing to vent his displeasure on record.

“The OCA is not a member of OOA. But it has been contributing and spending money on constructions,” said Lalatendu Pradhan, another sports lover.

“If Behera is ousted from the OCA, it will ultimately lose its claim on the land and the newly constructed areas,” said an advocate.

Most of Behera’s rivals have also alleged that he was treating the Barabati stadium like his private property. He has also sub-leased a piece of land and a building of the Barabati stadium to his two sons, they said.

Pradhan said: “The question is how can a lease land, given by the government for sporting activities, be sub-leased and that too, for commercial use at a time when a case on the property status is pending in court?”

Refuting the allegations, Behera said: “None can match my contribution for the development of sports. These are mere allegations. All possible steps are being taken to improve other sports.”

On the issue promoting commercial activities at the stadium, Behera said: “It has been approved by the general council. My son has not taken it for good.”