Ganguly stumped by KMC move

Kolkata, Nov 22 (UNI) Former Team India skipper Sourav Ganguly cannot seem to get out of the sticky turf, even if its not the 22-yards.

Ganguly's appeal for a waiver on building fees for a commercial complex near his house seems to have left him short of his crease.

The fees for the building is reportedly around Rs 13 lakhs, which he wanted to be waivered, through a letter dated November 13. But that has hit a roadblock at KMC.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Bikash Bhattacharya said, ''You must understand that there are two types of fees. One is the land fees and another is the fees for building. The land fees was waivered as the plot was gifted. Now the fees for the building is legally bound on Sourav Ganguly.'' ''Its the rule of the Corporation and we can do nothing about it.

We also have to take into consideration the fact whether the building would be used for commercial purpose or whether it is for the promotion of sports and sports related activities,'' he said.

He, however, denied reports that the matter was up for discussion during the council meeting last Friday. It has been learnt that though the matter was in the agenda, it was deferred till the next meeting.

''Its a sensitive issue and we are looking into it,'' Mr Bhattacharya said trying to tackle the uneasy situation.

Councillor Faiyaz Ahmed Khan added, ''The issue was not taken up in the last meeting. We are looking into it. The KMC will give its collective opinion on the issue soon.'' During a civic reception at the historic Town Hall two years back the KMC, then controlled by the BJP-Trinamool combine and led by Mayor Subrata Mukherjee, had gifted a plot of land to Sourav Ganguly to built a sports facility.

The plot of land is around 8.5 cottahs and was an abandoned piece of land that belong to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Mr Subrata Mukherjee said, ''The land was given as a gift to Sourav Ganguly during a civic reception. If the fees are not waivered the gift is incomplete. If the KMC gives tax sops to Ganguly, it will increase their stature only.'' ''It was an abondoned land near Ganguly's house and we decided to give it to him to make a facility to encourage youngsters to take up sports,'' he added.

The building, which will have five storeys, will have a multi-gym, health parlour, restaurant and a swimming pool.

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