File picture of cops deployed at Barbati Stadium during Odisha Cricket Association event in Cuttack

Bhubaneswar, July 29: The Odisha Cricket Association has approached the state government to reduce the fees towards police deployment during the cricket matches at Barbati Stadium in Cuttack.

Association secretary Ashirbad Behera said: “We have urged the government to make a fair assessment of the fee charged for police deployment. On some occasions, it has become a bit difficult to pay the exuberant charges for police deployment. It should be made at par with demands of other state police force.”

Behera said: “If the police demand Rs 30 lakh for deployment of police personnel and other related activities for an IPL match, it will be difficult for the organisers to pay the dues. Keeping it in mind, we have asked the government to reduce the charges by 50 per cent.”

Police commissioner R.P. Sharma said: “The association’s request is pending before the government. The government’s decision will be binding and final.”

Sources said that two months ago the association had cleared all the dues of Rs 89 lakh towards police deployment. However, the comptroller and auditor general (CAG), in its latest report, which was tabled in the Assembly yesterday on the last day of budget session, raised the issue of non-payment of charges by the association towards police deployment.

The CAG said in response to the association’s request for providing security to players and maintaining law and order for match, the Bhubaneswar police commissioner had assessed the cost of police deployment for Rs 59.92 lakh and requested the organisation in March 2010 to deposit the amount in advance.

The amount was later revised to Rs 69.14 lakh due to inclusion of Rs 2.76 lakh for enhanced dearness allowance (DA) and Rs 6.46 lakh service tax.

Of the total fees, only Rs 10 lakh was realised after a gap of two years in March 2013.

The report said that in respect of an IPL match, a recovery case was registered against the association and the franchisee.

Principal accountant general S.K. Dadha said: “The report was updated up to May 2013. The association might have cleared the dues.”

Director-general of police Sanjeev Kumar Marik said: “The department will also insist on recovering charges towards police deployment for non-government bodies.”

However, the police commissioner said the organisation had cleared the money.

The last IPL match was played at Barabati in Cuttack between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians in May last.

Around 36 platoons of police were deployed for security purposes and nearly 37,000 fans thronged the stadium to see the match. Besides, 300 private security personnel were deployed in the stadium.