'Trees around Kochi stadium were cut down'; suspicious financial transactions took place under pretext of bringing Argentina football team to Kochi, says Hibi Eden

KOCHI: Hibi Eden MP has alleged that suspicious financial transactions took place under the pretext of bringing the Argentina football team to Kochi. He also claimed that the renovation activities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi were filled with irregularities. Hibi Eden demanded that the agreement between the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the sponsor, made in connection with the stadium’s demolition and reconstruction, should be made public.

Hibi Eden's words
“The future of Kochi Stadium itself is uncertain. Cricket has already disappeared from here, and now there are reports that Kerala Blasters might also leave Kochi. The rent paid by Kerala Blasters as their home ground was GCDA’s main source of revenue. Now, the stadium is in a state of uncertainty,” he said.

He also questioned the eligibility of the companies carrying out the construction work. "All the trees around the stadium have been cut down. Normally, there are strict rules for cutting roadside trees, and it must be clarified whether those rules were followed. The agreement between GCDA and the sponsor must be disclosed, and it should be made clear under whose supervision the contract proceedings are being carried out," Hibi Eden said.