Give Kotla safety clearance at your risk, HC to SDMC
NEWDELHI: “Cricket matches will come and go, but there can’t be loss of even one human life,” the Delhi High Court said on Wednesday while hearing a plea by Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) seeking permission to use a stand at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground whose safety is under a cloud.
Justice Rajiv Shakhder told South Delhi Municipal Council (SDMC) to give clearance certificate for Kotla’s RP Mehra stand at its own risk for staging Indian Premier League matches.
If there is some casualty, the responsibility would be on the civic body and DDCA, he said.
The single-judge bench expressed concern over the safety of spectators. The court’s remarks came while hearing an application filed by DDCA’s court-appointed administrator who said if it is not allowed to use the old club house (RP Mehra stand) to put up broadcasting equipment and related personnel, IPL matches scheduled from April 23 would not take place at the stadium. The court’s observation came after SDMC submitted an interim structural stability report. It said although the construction was 20 years old, test results of the existing concrete strength shows the structure is safe and stable.
However, the report said at certain places there were corrosion of the steel reinforcement due to seepage and poor maintenance. “After more than 20 years of construction, the results of the existing concrete strength shows around M-19 (19N/mm^2), which is hardly half per cent below the designated strength and can be considered safe and stable,” the report said.
The report sought an undertaking from DDCA that it would submit certificates on the building design. The court listed the matter for hearing on April 20 by when DDCA must inform whether it can give the undertaking.