Senior volleyball coach, contractor booked for felling of tree near Mangala Stadium

coastaldigest.com news network

July 6, 2018

Mangaluru, Jul 6: A state-level volleyball coach and a tree-cutting contractor have been booked by the Forest Department for the alleged illegal felling of a rain tree and the pruning of over a dozen other trees in and around the volleyball training ground adjoining the Mangala Stadium in the city.

The department took action after green activist Shashidhar Shetty brought the issue to its notice yesterday.

According to Range Forest Officer P Sridhar, a three-decade-old rain tree near the volleyball training area was cut down, while branches of Ashoka and 13 other trees in the area between the stadium and the volleyball ground were pruned.

In fact an application was submitted by Deputy Director of Youth Services and Sports Pradeep D’Souza to his office on June 4 seeking permission for felling and pruning of some trees whose branches were likely to fall down and cause harm to volleyball players training at the ground.

“Before we could send the personnel, the department had got the contractor, who illegally cut down the old tree on Wednesday. Pruning of branches of other trees was done on Monday and Tuesday,” Sridhar said.

Sridhar said that permission was necessary for cutting and pruning of trees whose girth was 30 cm and more. Felling and pruning of trees without permission was an offence under Section 8 of the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act. The Assistant Range Forest Officer has registered an FIR against Mr. Alva and the contractor.

Narayan Alva, a senior volleyball coach who trains State and national level volleyball players, said the application for pruning of trees was made a day after the fall of a branch of the old rain tree when the training was on.

“I was concerned about the safety of around 100 volleyball players. Hence I requested the department for pruning of the old rain tree near the practice area and other trees outside,” he said.

Alva said he was shocked to see the contractor had felled the old tree, which was among the several trees in the area that served as shelter for players. Mr. Alva said the personnel of the contractor carried out their work between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. when there was no practice session.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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