Kochi: The management of Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters has denied the allegations of breach of contract raised by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor, where the team play their home matches.
In a press release, the franchise has claimed that the GCDA had estimated the maintenance cost of the stadium ahead of the fourth season at Rs 53 lakh, which was extremely high and unreal. The club paid Rs 24 lakh, and repaired the broken chairs and electrical equipment apart from renovating the toilets at the venue spending an amount of Rs 28.7 lakh. The cost of the repair works was supposed to be borne by the GCDA.
However, after the 5th edition, the previous season’s ‘due’ was added to the maintenance estimate which stood at Rs 48.89 lakh. The club refused to pay that amount, but agreed that it will do the civil maintenance and electrical maintenance during the lease period.
The report pertaining to the damage incurred in the fifth season was given by the GCDA only on September 29, two days before the stadium allotment, but the club management had already carried out all the repair works. The decision to hike the rent by 20 per cent was also not informed, the release said.
“Presently, the club owes only Rs 11.79 lakh to the GCDA for providing drinking water, electricity and parking facilities. The amount will be paid in due course.”
According to the release, the GCDA is yet to take a decision on the club’s request to roll back the 20 per cent hike in stadium rent. The delay in finalising the rent is the reason for not signing an agreement with the GCDA even after completing two matches.
Based on the previous season’s contract, the club has already paid a rent of Rs 10 lakh plus GST for the two matches, but the GCDA is demanding Rs 12 lakh plus GST. It is unacceptable, the release said.
“As per an agreement signed in Season 5, the lessee is bound to provide free passes to all the GCDA employees and one guest each to watch the matches during the lease period and earmark a specified area for them in the stadium. In the fifth and the sixth seasons, the franchise has given away a total of 2,400 complimentary passes to the GCDA. Hence, their claim that they have never sought free passes from the club is not true.”
Also, there is documentary evidence to prove that the GCDA had demanded Rs 2.36 lakh as parking fee on match days, the release added.
