IPL gets some nods

While the Home Ministry said that it was still awaiting replies from state governments over the Indian Premier League...

While the Home Ministry said that it was still awaiting replies from state governments over the Indian Premier Leagues IPL re-revised schedule,official confirmations from some of the states started to trickle in. The IPL,which has been caught in a security debate because its dates April 10 to May 24 almost run parallel with the general elections April 16 to May 16,had on Tuesday submitted a new schedule in which venues had been chopped and changed,and matches were scheduled away from polling dates in the respective cities.

The last I heard was that yesterday morning they submitted a revised schedule. The revised schedule has been sent to all the state governments concerned. Weve asked them to give their comments and views as early as possible, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

The Congress-NCP alliance government of Maharashtra has been ambivalent about providing adequate security to IPL matches due to be played in the state while the state police have been drafting security plans despite the confusion prevailing over dates and venues.

Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil refused to comment when asked if the state had sent its reply to New Delhi. Police sources however said that they were going ahead with security plans and had begun looking at the VIP security protocol in the South Mumbai.

But the West Bengal government,which had indicated on Tuesday night that it was okay with the dates,confirmed that it was feasible to provide security for IPL matches in Kolkata as per the new schedule.

Himachal Pradesh,too,has agreed to facilitate holding of four IPL matches at the newly-built cricket stadium at Dharamsala. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,who also holds the Home portfolio,said the state government would provide security during the scheduled matches. Anurag Thakur,president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association,said: The government has assured a foolproof security.

In Punjab,the government gave its nod for the matches scheduled in Mohali on April 12,19,21 and 28. Punjab Home Secretary NS Kang said that after reviewing the security arrangements and available resources,a formal clearance had been accorded to hosting the matches ahead of the elections,slated for May 7 and 13.

Story continues below this ad

Punjab is ready for the matches and foolproof security arrangements will be made to ensure safe and peaceful conduct of all the four games awarded to us, Kang told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile,IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said in Mumbai that the T20 league was working closely with the authorities to get the schedule finalised. We are working very hard with all the states and the Home Ministry. As and when it is ready,it will be out, he said.

Delhi and Jaipur have been taken off the IPLs revamped schedule,and Modi said this was because of security concerns in the two states.