Dharavi sports club in a mess

UNSPORTING BEHAVIOUR | Members allege mismanagement and lack of amenities despite hefty fees; original remit to develop local talent ignored

- Devashri Bhujbal

Members of the District Sports Club (DSC) located in Dharavi are up in arms against the club's alleged mismanagement and lack of amenities despite the hefty fees.

The club, spread over 12,000 square metres near Bandra Kurla Complex, was constructed at a cost of Rs21 crore by the state government in 2013 to promote sports activities among the masses.

However, the management was handed over to a private firm in 2019 when Vinod Tawde was the minister for sports in the then BJP-led government.

The contract was given Oscorp Construction Pvt Ltd despite strong opposition from local people.

"In 2019, the management promised to develop the club in three phases. However, apart from minor interior changes, we do not see any difference. We are waiting for a basic cafeteria to come up," said one lifetime member, Vishal Karande.

Karande is a resident of Dharavi, who took the lifetime membership by paying Rs3 lakh in 2019 under the special scheme for locals by the DSC.

"I am paying the same coaching fees of Rs21,000 for 50 swimming sessions for my son that a non-member pays.