Will Wankhede Stadium go the Eden Gardens way?
Mumbai, Feb 9: After the Eden Gardens cricket stadium in Kolkata lost the right to hold the India-England match scheduled for February 27, cricket lovers in Mumbai, too, may be in for a rude shock. There are just 11 days left for the cricket World Cup, but the city's Wankhede stadium does not have an occupation certificate (OC) from the BMC. Sources have confirmed that the OC has been withheld because of fire safety lapses. An inspection team comprising civic and police officials visited the stadium on Saturday. The team has found that the newly renovated stadium has many loopholes in its fire safety mechanism. It alleged that the stadium does not have the necessary fire safety equipments in place.
The stadium, which has a capacity of more than 45,000, should have hydrants every 30 metres. They ought to be connected with a ring well pipeline which pumps water to them. 'During the site inspection, we found that hydrants were not installed along the stadium's circumference. Also the ring well pipeline, meant to provide water to hydrants on the ground, was not intact,' said a civic official who inspected the site.
He added that the stadium ought to have more fire exits. 'No-smoking indicators, fire alarms and extinguishers have to be installed. Till the mandatory requirements are fulfilled, the no-objection certificate to throw open the stadium for the public cannot be issued,' he said. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief administrative officer and director of the World Cup tournament Ratnakar Shetty refused to comment. 'We have not received the findings of the inspection team. We will address the matter when we receive the report,' he said.
The site inspection officers are compiling the report to submit it before the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Officials are also toying with other option to fight fire. They may provide fire brigades and engines on a chargeable basis on the days of the three matches scheduled to be played at the stadium. The first is to be held on March 13, while the final, too, is scheduled to be played here.
News Posted: 9 February, 2011
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