MPCA office in Indore’s Holkar Stadium sealed
There is uncertainty over three Kings XI Punjab matches for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the office of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) was sealed for non-payment of taxes on Thursday.
The MPCA office is situated in Indore’s Holkar Stadium, which is scheduled to host Kings XI matches against Rising Pune Supergiants on April 8, Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 10 and Mumbai Indians on April 20. The Holkar Stadium last hosted an IPL match six years ago.
Considering the state association was an integral part of the planning process for the matches, the first of which takes place in just a week, there is doubt over whether the preparations will go over smoothly.
TAX DEBATE
Two cabins of the MPCA office were sealed by the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), along with two of the eight gates of the stadium, as the state association had failed to pay property taxes amounting to Rs 29 lakh.
Supposedly, there was debate over the appropriate tax that was to be charged to the state association.
MPCA believes it should pay Rs 7.40 lakh as property tax which it has been doing since the financial year of 2010-11. However, the municipal corporation claimed that the playing surface of the stadium had not been declared in previous financial years and the IMC estimates that additional taxes had to be levied since it was to be considered as area used by MPCA for commercial gain.
The IMC exempts from tax the areas of the stadium which are open to the general public for recreational use. However, since the playing field of the stadium is not open to the public and only to host cricket matches, it is to be considered a “commercial venue” according to the IMC.
The MPCA alleges that it was asked to pay the huge sum after the IMC’s assessment of the stadium on Wednesday. However, since it is an institution, it could not make the entire payment without clearance of a board meeting.
With the financial year 2016-17 ending on March 31 (Friday), the IMC claimed it had little choice but to seal the offices until the payment was made. The offices were sealed on Thursday afternoon.
IMC deputy commissioner (revenue) PS Solanki, who headed the team which sealed the two cabins, including that of MPCA chief executive officer, and two of the eight entry-exit gates of the stadium, said: “A significant part of the property has been sealed owing to non-payment of property tax worth Rs 29 lakh due for the 2016-17 financial year,” IMC deputy commissioner of revenue PS Solanki was quoted as saying by the New Indian Express.
ROHIT, HARBHAJAN TO JOIN MI CAMP
MUMBAI: Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, who skipped the Deodhar Trophy that concluded on Thursday, is to join the IPL team’s ongoing camp here on Saturday along with veteran offspinner Harbahajan Singh.
Also joining the camp tomorrow will be England wicket keeper-batsman Jos Buttler and New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell McCleneghan, along with the franchise’s new buy Kulwant Khejroliya, MI announced.
The two-time title winners began their preparation for the upcoming season 10 of the T20 League on March 25 and are scheduled to play a practice match on April 1 under lights.
MI commence their bid to regain the title against Pune in an away game on April 6.
SINCE THE STATE ASSOCIATION WAS PART OF PLANNING, THERE IS DOUBT WHETHER PREPARATIONS WILL HAPPEN SMOOTHLY