Uppal stadium may be sealed

Hyderabad: Here is some bad news for every local cricket fan and that too with the ninth edition of IPL round the corner. Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium (RGICS) at Uppal may be sealed and barred from conducting matches if the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) authorities fail to cough up Rs 14.26 crore towards property tax dues within the next week or so.

Taking serious objection to the outstanding amount (HCA has been defaulting on property tax from 2009), the Industrial Area Local Authorities (IALA) and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have swung into action to recover the accrued amount.

A day after serving a notice, personnel from IALA and the GHMC visited the stadium at Uppal only to find that there was no official worth the name present on the occasion. S Kalavathi, commissioner, TSIICA IALA, said “HCA has not paid the property tax since 2009. Despite seizing some movable properties last year they have not responded till date.

I spoke to President Arshad Ayub who clarified that they had sought an appointment with Association patron and MAUD Minister K T Rama Rao, who is presently in New Delhi. Hence, the extension of deadline,” she told reporters. Kalavathi also pointed out that this was the final warning to the Association.

“If they don’t pay in the given time, we will lock the office and seize office equipment. We are also into trouble from other entrepreneurs of TSIICA IALA, who allege that we have been too soft on violators like HCA whereas we don’t spare them if they default,” she said. Indications are that they may agree for an installment-based payment. Neither the president nor secretary of HCA was available for comment.