India skipper Sourav Ganguly [Images] was formally handed over a 4.89 acre plot by the West Bengal government to set up a cricket academy at Salt Lake in Kolkata.

The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, which owned the land, handed over relevant documents to Ganguly's elder brother Snehashis, a director of the company floated by the skipper for the venture.

The government, which had earlier signed an agreement with the '22 Yards Sports Pvt Ltd' in this regard last month, gave the users' rights to the company for a total period of 30 years, KMDA sources said.

Ganguly had initially wanted to set up his cricket academy in South Kolkata near his house in Behala and a plot of land, owned by the Railways, had also been identified for the purpose.

However, after the Railway authorities expressed their inability to vacate the land for the purpose, the state government offered him a plot of land in Salt Lake area.

The Indian captain had said that experts and trainers from both the domestic and international circuits would be involved in the Salt lake academy to impart modern training to the youngsters.