Nagpur VHA Ground to Be Taken Over by Nazul Department on August 13

Nagpur: The long-standing dispute over the Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) ground on Amravati Road has reached a decisive stage, with the Nazul Department set to take possession of the 3.8-acre hockey field on August 13.

The office of the Nayab Tehsildar, Nazul Department, has issued a notice to the VHA Secretary informing the association that officials will take control of the ground at 11 am on August 13. VHA officials and representatives have been asked to remain present during the possession process.

The notice, dated August 5, 2026, follows the cancellation of the ground’s lease by the District Collector last month.

Lease Cancelled After Adverse Sports Department Report

The VHA has held the land on Amravati Road since 1962. Its lease was renewed in 2007 and was scheduled to remain valid until 2037.

However, in an order dated July 17, 2026, the District Collector concluded that the association was no longer fulfilling the conditions required for continuation of the lease and directed the Tehsildar to take possession of the land.

The decision followed an adverse report from the District Sports Office, which reportedly highlighted inadequate facilities for players and the absence of proper arrangements for conducting hockey tournaments.

The Collector also sought documents relating to the lease and examined whether its conditions had been followed. The order reportedly cited several issues, including non-payment of annual lease fees for several years, poor maintenance of the ground, overgrown bushes and the absence of an astro-turf facility.

VHA Challenges Collector’s Order

Following the lease cancellation, the VHA approached the Divisional Commissioner, seeking intervention and requesting that the Collector’s order be quashed.

The association’s administrative structure has also remained complicated. There has been no elected official body of the VHA since T N Sidhra was appointed Administrator by the High Court in 2019.

The Administrator subsequently moved to the northern part of the country and appointed a coordinator. Krishna Joshi, currently coordinating affairs, has been attempting to prevent the loss of the ground.

Last-Ditch Appeal to CM Fadnavis

With the possession process approaching, Joshi has sought the intervention of VHA patron and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

In a message to the Chief Minister, Joshi requested that a meeting of all stakeholders be convened before any final decision is taken.

He argued that the ground serves as a home for thousands of hockey players from 11 districts and warned that losing the facility could seriously affect their sporting careers.

Joshi urged Fadnavis to reconsider the Collector’s decision and intervene to protect the ground.

A Ground With Decades of Hockey History

The VHA ground has hosted hockey matches for decades and remains closely associated with the sport’s history in the region.

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to the prolonged internal disputes within the association. Questions have been raised over whether the VHA’s internal conflicts and administrative problems contributed to the deterioration of the facility and ultimately to the cancellation of its lease.

With the August 13 possession date now fixed, efforts to save the historic hockey ground have entered a critical phase.

GET YOUR OWN WEBSITE

FOR ₹9,999

Domain & Hosting FREE for 1 Year

No Hidden Charges