Soon, city can kick off matches on astroturf

Soon, city can kick off matches on astroturf

Cooperage ground gets Heritage panel nod for laying artificial football turf and constructing a new stand

Decks have been cleared for the city to get its first astroturf football ground. On Thursday, the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) decided to give an No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to Cooperage Ground in Colaba to lay out astroturf (artificial turf) and constructing a stand. The ground is being maintained by Western India Football Association (WIFA). On Tuesday, officials from the WIFA gave a presentation to the heritage committee about the astroturf, construction of a stand for spectators and other required facilities. “We have discussed it in the meeting and have sought details about the arrangement to drain water and clarification on the stand,” said V Ranganathan, chairman of MHCC. The ground comes under the heritage precinct and so the approval from MHCC was necessary. “The NOC will be given in a day or two after receiving the details asked by the committee,” Ranganathan added. The civic officials said the proposal came before the MHCC for the first time. “The committee members were told the stands would be built in such a way that they could be easily assembled and dismantled as and when required,” said a civic official. Officials from WIFA said the work will begin immediately after receiving the NOC. “We submitted the details on Thursday and are waiting for NOC,” said Henry Menezes, CEO of WIFA. On October 31, FIFA has given WIFA a two-star certification for maintaining the ground, added Menezes. Souter Vaz, secretary of WIFA, said: “We are happy that after our presentation the MHCC has decided to give us an NOC.” The ground will start holding football matches in the first week of January.