Kolkata, March 16: A FIR was today lodged against Cricket Association of Bengal for allegedly flouting fire safety rules at a temporary VIP gallery at Eden Gardens during yesterday`s IPL match even as the cricket board cried foul.
The FIR was filed by the West Bengal Fire Services department against CAB at the instance of Fire Services Minister Pratim Pratim Chatterjee for not having sanction and for alleged violation of fire services rules at the temporary wooden VIP gallery with a seating capacity of 400.
Chatterjee claimed that KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan expressed surprise how CAB could allow such a temporary structure to be used for an IPL match. “But I have nothing against Shah Rukh Khan. I want him to hold the match here.”
Chatterjee told that Shah Rukh spoke to him over phone and expressed regret for permission not being taken for the gallery from the Fire Services department by the CAB.
“Shah Rukh assured me that he will ensure that fire safety rules are strictly enforced in the gallery which will be erected afresh before tomorrow`s IPL match at the Eden,” he said.
Later, CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya said that the police did not permit the temporary structure to be used yesterday till the time the PWD permitted its use by the Kolkata Knight Riders on conditional basis for two matches.
“It is understood that KKR being the organisers, they provided an undertaking to take all responsibility for such use and for taking necessary corrective actions,” he said in a statement.
Dalmiya said that the CAB had informed the Kolkata Police on February 27 that it had accorded approval to KKR for the temporary structure, subject to their obtaining permission from the relevant authorities.
“On March 12, the CAB received a letter from Fire Brigade authorities advising that the temporary structure be dismantled. On the same day, the CAB forwarded a copy of Fire Brigade`s letter to KKR requesting them to do the needful. A copy of the letter was also forwarded to the Kolkata Police authorities.
“Under the circumstances, the CAB had taken necessary action and it is shocking that yet the CAB is being blamed for it.”
Dalmiya claimed that the CAB had earlier this month applied to the fire brigade and obtained its permission for the IPL matches by depositing Rs 2,50,264.
“We are shocked and surprised to learn that certain quarters are trying to blame the CAB for the temporary structure that has been put up at the `B` block of the Eden Gardens stadium by Kolkata Knight Riders for their Super Hospitality Area,” Dalmiya said.
He said that it was a well documented fact that CAB was nothing but a facilitator of the stadium for the IPL matches and the entire control, management and affairs of the matches, including planning, seating arrangements and tickets were controlled by KKR.
The Fire Services minister, however, blamed CAB saying, “CAB has shown little respect for government rules and regulations at the Eden Gardens where the temporary gallery did not have sanction of the Fire Services department.”
Noting that the matter was serious, the minister said it could not be supported. “I will not bow to any pressure and I am ready to quit if no action is taken against CAB.”
——PTI