CM Uddhav looks into Wankhede lease issue Harit N Joshi harit. joshi@ mid- day. com THE Mumbai Cricket Association could garner some relief from the state government in the R 120- crore Wankhede Stadium lease issue.
One of the major challenges that the newly- elected committee of the MCA was facing was to tackle the R 120- crore fee slapped by the Mumbai City collector last April. An ultimatum was issued that if the amount is not paid, they would risk losing the prime plot in south Mumbai.
However, with the new government in place and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at the helm, the MCA officials were keen to discuss several issues. A meeting was arranged on January 27 with the CM. MCA officials said the chief minister immediately addressed their concern related to the R 120- crore notice related to unpaid dues and lease renewal.
u201c Uddhavji heard us patiently and immediately ordered to relook into the R 120- crore notice. Although we havenu2019t yet received a revised notice from the state government, we have been informed that the MCA will have to pay approximately R 5 crore as per the standard procedure,u201d an MCA official told mid- day.
Sources in the MCA said the Mumbai City collector had levied a commercial rate for the use of Wankhede Stadium, which was contested by the association.
The Maharashtra chief minister, however, did not give in to MCAu2019s demand to reconsider notices from the state with regard to their Kandivli club. Interestingly, Thackeray and his son Aditya, who is a state minister, represent MCA clubs.
Sources in the MCA said the Mumbai City collector had levied a commercial rate for the use of Wankhede Stadium For the latest sports news and views, log on to www. mid- day. com
