The Kolkata Knight Riders’s (KKR) plans of setting up a super hospitality enclosure at Eden Gardens has run into rough waters a day before the team’s first home match. The state fire services department has refused a fit certificate to the temporary stand equipped to seat 400 fans for which
tickets were sold for Rs 32,000 each.
“The fire services department was not consulted before construction of the temporary structure. Anyone erecting a temporary structure anywhere in the city needs permission from our department. said Gopal Bhattacharjee, Director General of the fire services department. “It has been built with inflammable materials. This is not recommended at all,” he said.
The Knight Riders officials were not available for comment. It was learnt unofficially that they were trying to get the clearance before their third match at Eden Gardens, on April 1 against Deccan Chargers. Their first match at home in Sunday against Bangalore Roycal Challengers followed by the one against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
The team officials got into trouble with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) also which pulled down hoardings put up in and around Eden Gardens on Friday night. According to the civic body, the KKR authorities had not paid taxes for putting up the hoardings. “If anyone believes he can get away without paying proper taxes, it is his misconception. We will not spare anyone,” said Bikash Bhattacharjee, mayor of Kolkata.
This stalemate was resolved after a meeting between the KMC and KKR representatives. The KMC demanded that the KKR would pay Rs 5 lakh as penalty for putting up illegal hoardings and Rs 25 lakh as entertainment tax. The KKR paid the amount and also promised to cough up Rs 5 lakh more as the civic body’s share of advertisements inside the ground.
Team to pay captain Ganguly’s fine
In an unrelated development, the KKR has decided to pay the fine of $20,000 (Rs 9.08 lakh) slapped on captain Sourav Ganguly for his team’s slow over rate in Friday’s match.