No objectionable items found in toilets used by athletes at Kalinga Stadium: Sports Minister

Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Friday clarified that no objectionable items were found in the toilet reportedly used by athletes at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Responding in the Assembly through a written statement regarding media reports about the recovery of objectionable materials, the Minister said that an inquiry was conducted after the news was circulated in the media. 

He further stated that the toilets mentioned in the reports are located inside the campus. However, those are mostly used by visitors who come for walks or general access, not exclusively by athletes.

Now a question mark has been raised about why visitors coming for a walk inside the stadium will throw objectionable items inside the toilets.

Also Read: ‘Liquor bottles, used syringes...’: Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar plagued by negligence?

It has been alleged that some authorities of the Sports Department provided incorrect information to the Minister in an attempt to divert attention from their own negligence.

Notably, unhygienic conditions prevailed everywhere, from the toilets to the surrounding areas inside the stadium, a month ago. Discarded materials were seen strewn across the premises. Even more alarming was the presence of empty liquor bottles, scattered syringes, used condoms, and other objectionable items lying openly in areas frequented by athletes and staff.