IPL Match On Despite HCA's Failure to Cough up Tax Dues

Hyderabad Cricket Association claims it need not pay property tax since Uppal stadium is a sporting venue
IPL Match On Despite HCA's Failure to Cough up Tax Dues

HYDERABAD:  Here is some good news for cricket lovers. Monday’s IPL match in the city will go as per schedule. The proposed plans of the Industrial Area Local Authority (IALA), a wing of the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to seize the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium at Uppal for non-payment of property tax has been put on hold.

As of now, there no immediate plans to seal the stadium and the IPL match between Sun Risers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab will go on without any problem, IALA Managing Director E V Narasimha Reddy told Express. “GHMC has nothing to do with IALA plans to seize the stadium. We don’t want to bring disrepute to Hyderabad at a time when the State government is taking steps to improve the image of the city,” GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer Somesh Kumar said.

“It is purely their (IALA) decision to seize the stadium and GHMC is not a party to it. We don’t want to act in haste,” he clarified.

Two more matches, between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians would be held on May 15 and 17.

IALA officials said the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) which manages the stadium has approached the Telangana Government for sorting out the issue as the matter is with the State government and till the matter is sorted out, the proposals to seize the stadium have been pout on hold.

IALA has slapped a series of notices on HCA to pay Rs 12 crore property tax dues. “The HCA has not been paying property tax dues for more than five years. A fresh notice was served on HCA a few days ago giving it a fortnight to reply. HCA is not coming forward to pay pending taxes despite repeated reminders,” IALA officials said.

As Uppal cricket stadium comes under the industrial belt, IALA has to collect the property tax and deposit about one-third (35 percent) into the GHMC account.

The HCA has been claiming that there was no need to pay property tax as it is a sports venue. However, IALA and GHMC officials have been insisting that since a lot of commercial activity goes on in the stadium, property tax must be paid and point at the cash-rich IPL.

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