Football lovers oppose using ground for wellness centre

VELLORE: Vellore Corporation’s plan to construct a wellness centre at Saidapet kicked up a row on Saturday after a section of youngsters from the neighbourhood picked up an argument with Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar saying they were using the empty ground to play football.

Mayor Sujatha arrived at the site near the over-head tank adjacent to Nainiappan street in Saidapet to participate in the bhoomi pooja of the proposed wellness centre.

The empty ground is presently used by local youth to play football. When they learnt of the civic body’s plan to set up wellness centre there, they immediately accosted the Mayor and picked up an argument. The Corporation should change its plan and shift the proposed wellness centre elsewhere, they demanded.

This triggered a heated war of word between the youngsters and those who supported the centre. Coming forward to support the proposal, Lakshmi, a local resident, said the youth would understand the importance of the centre only when they get married.

“We live in a corner of the town and going to the hospital during emergencies is hard due to the distance. That is why we elders want the wellness centre here,” she reasoned.

However, soon after the Mayor left the spot after participating in the pooja, the youngsters immediately took up spades and filled up the pit dug for the ritual.

When asked, Mayor Sujatha said the youth in the locality did not understand the implications of their actions. “The centre will be built in three months, with police help if necessary, as the land the youth are presently using belongs to the local body,” she said.