Nainital: The picturesque Flats Maidan (also known as Flats Ground or DSA Ground), Nainital’s only major public playground and a historic venue for local sports, has once again become the center of controversy. Rather than celebrating outstanding performances by athletes in ongoing competitions, the ground is now embroiled in a heated dispute over possession and lease rights between the Nainital Municipal Board (Nagar Palika) and the District Sports Department.

The core issue revolves around a 30-year lease agreement signed during the tenure of the municipal administrator. On January 27, 2025, the Municipal Executive Officer (EO) and the Deputy Director of Sports signed a nazul land lease contract, transferring approximately 21,405 square meters (214050969 square cm, as per some records) of the Flats Maidan to the Sports Department. The lease, governed by nazul manual rules, allows the department to occupy and manage the ground for sports activities for three decades. Rent is to be determined as per prevailing nazul regulations.

The primary objective of the lease was to ensure that certificates issued for competitions held at the ground carry official recognition, benefiting players in competitive exams, government jobs, and further sporting opportunities. Previously, certificates from the District Sports Association (DSA) lacked formal governmental validation, denying athletes reservation benefits or eligibility advantages.

Under the agreement’s terms:

• The Sports Department will include at least four annual competitions organized by the District Sports Association in its yearly calendar.
• It will provide financial assistance and official certificates for these events.
• 50% of any revenue generated from sports activities on the ground will be shared with the Municipal Board.
• The department is authorized to develop infrastructure and resources for sports promotion.

Despite this legally executed agreement in the presence of government officials, the current Municipal Board, led by Congress-supported Chairperson Dr. Saraswati Khetwal, has firmly refused to hand over possession or recognize the lease. Dr. Khetwal has described the ground as part of Nainital’s cultural heritage and “our courtyard,” arguing there is no question of leasing it out. She has garnered support from several BJP councillors (sabhassads), who have united across party lines to oppose the transfer, framing it as a matter of preserving local control and preventing external interference.

The standoff has disrupted sports activities. Recent cricket tournaments, including the Prithviraj Singh Cricket Competition organized jointly by DSA and the municipality, were stalled or postponed due to the dispute. In one instance, the Sports Department lodged a police complaint after a competition was obstructed. The department has invested around ₹3 lakh in constructing a cricket pitch on the ground, further escalating tensions.

Adding complexity to the matter, a district administration probe has previously uncovered financial irregularities worth lakhs in the District Sports Association. The investigation report remains pending action, raising questions about transparency in local sports bodies. Critics argue that without official recognition of events at the ground, young athletes from Nainital continue to lose out on opportunities.

The controversy highlights broader issues of administrative continuity, inter-departmental coordination, and local governance in Uttarakhand’s hilly regions. During the administrator’s regime (often appointed when elected bodies are dissolved or in transition), such decisions were made to streamline sports development and provide better facilities to players. However, the elected board’s resistance underscores political sensitivities around public land use in a tourism-dependent town like Nainital, where open spaces are prized assets.

Local stakeholders, including senior players like Manoj Bisht and Bhuvad Bisht, along with councillors such as Jitendra Pandey ‘Jeenu,’ have vowed to fight for the ground’s protection. They emphasize that the maidan is an “invaluable heritage” and should remain under municipal oversight to prevent commercialization or misuse.

As the dispute intensifies, sports enthusiasts and residents are calling for swift resolution. The Sports Department maintains that the lease is valid and binding, while the Municipal Board insists on reclaiming control. With no immediate compromise in sight, the future of competitions at Flats Maidan hangs in the balance, potentially affecting hundreds of local athletes who rely on the ground for practice and events.