Permission for stand at Eden was taken: Dalmiya

Kolkata, Tue, Mar 16 2010 (PTI) - Cricket Association of Bengal President Jagmohan Dalmiya claimed that prior permission was taken for the temporary gallery in the Eden Gardens, after a FIR was filed against the CAB for flouting fire safety rules.

"We are law-abiding citizens and we always obtain the necessary permissions from the relevant authorities before any event. It happened during the last ODI in December, during the Test match in February and this time for IPL too," Dalmiya said in a release hours after the FIR was filed at the instance of Fire Services minister Pratim Chatterjee.

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 Knightriders 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.

Dalmiya said that the CAB had informed the Kolkata police on February 27 that it had accorded its 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 said the police did not permit the temporary structure to be used yesterday till the time PWD permitted its use by KKR on conditional basis for two matches.

"It is understood that KKR being the organizers, they provided an undertaking to take all responsibility for such use and for taking necessary corrective actions," Dalmiya said.