IPL Chairman seeks centre's intervention in matches

New Delhi, April 10: Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday met with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba here seeking centre’s intervention for providing security to avoid disruptions during Twenty20 cricket matches in Cheni over the Cauvery waters issue.

Shukla met with the Home Secretary at his North Block office in the wake of demands by various Tamil groups and political parties that IPL Twenty20 matches be suspended in the city until the Cauvery water dispute is sorted out.

The Tamil groups have demanded that the authorities cancel Tuesday’s IPL match in Cheni between Cheni Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

In his interaction with media here, Shukla said he had been assured by the centre, the Tamil du government and the Cheni police of the smooth conduct of IPL matches in Cheni.

“I met the Home Secretary, who spoke to the Police DGP (Director General of Police), giving him instructions that full security should be provided to the spectators, players and no untoward incidents should not happen,” Shukla said.

“Tamil du government and Cheni police have also assured that security will be provided.”

Hours before the CSK-KKR tie, some pro-Tamil activists tried to stage a demonstration outside the M.A. Chidambaram stadium in Cheni against holding of the IPL fixtures in Tamil du. The Supreme Court had on February 16 reduced Tamil du’s share of Cauvery water to 177.25 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), down from the 192 TMC allocated by a tribul in 2007. Kartaka’s share of water was increased by 14.75 TMC.

The Centre failed to set up the CMB within six weeks of the apex court’s February 16 order. The deadline ended on March 29. The court has now asked the government to work out a roadmap by May 3. IANS