Bhubaneswar, Dec. 22: The Odisha Cricket Association and police today decided not to allow water bottles into the spectator galleries at Barabati Stadium during international cricket matches.
The decision came a month after the home department submitted its report on the bottle-throwing incident at Barabati Stadium during the T20 International between India and South Africa on October 5 to the state government.
The ban was decided at a joint meeting between the police and the OCA officials here. The two parties also decided to increase the height of the net in front of the galleries.
"Provisions of purified drinking water would be made in all galleries, and disposable glasses would be made available to the spectators during matches. Water bottles would not be allowed into the galleries," said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.
Trouble had erupted at Barabati Stadium during the T20 match after spectators, apparently frustrated with India's poor performance, started hurling plastic water bottles from gallery No. 2 and 4 onto the field.
The incident had forced the officials to suspend the match twice. The play had resumed only after the police vacated both the galleries.
The irresponsible behaviour of the spectators had drawn severe criticism from various quarters. Cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar had also expressed dismay over the incident, with Gavaskar suggesting that the venue be banned from hosting any international match for two years.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India had also served a show cause notice to the OCA following the incident.
"Numbering of all seats in all galleries would be made for capacity assessment of the galleries and for avoiding overcrowding and unauthorised entry. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be installed in all the galleries to keep a close watch on the crowd. The OCA authorities have agreed to ensure the completion of these tasks well before the next international match," said Sharma.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered the home secretary to probe the incident.
"We have also decided to make the spectators aware that they are under CCTV surveillance prior to their entry into the stadium," said a police official.
