Kitchens at Kotla stadium will not be used, DDCA tells HC

The DDCA today assured the Delhi High Court that it would not operate kitchens inside Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, where a fire broke out on May 3, and ensure that only pre-cooked foods are served during the IPL matches.
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) also submitted a no-objection certificate (NoC), issued by the fire department, in the court and gave an undertaking on deployment of four fire fire-fighting units at different places in and around the stadium to cope up with any emergency situation.
"Pursuant to our directions, DDCA has handed a copy of NoC letter obtained from the Chief Fire Officer. The said letter is taken on record," a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul said.

"It appears that in view of the fire safety measures, the fire department has no objection to the Indian Premier League matches between May 7 to 10 from 4 pm on wards at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium," the court said.
It also directed to the Health department of SDMC to appoint 11 inspectors at "appropriate places" to ensure that the directions with regard to food are complied with.
"In order to ensure that the directions with regard to food is complied, health department of SDMC shall post 11 inspectors at appropriate places and the list of these be given to DDCA today itself so that they are permitted access," the court added.

The bench also ordered the DDCA to maintain good housekeeping conditions on the stadium premises in order to avoid "any untoward incident".

The DDCA handed over two cheques amounting to Rs 50 lakh to SDMC as directed by the court on May 1, for clearance of property tax dues.
The court also gave "final opportunity" to DDCA to ensure that they have all the requisite permissions to hold matches at the Kotla stadium and asked SDMC to "co-operate" with the DDCA in obtaining the completion certificate from the concerned departments and help it in expediting the process.
The court had yesterday de-sealed the kitchens and eateries inside stadium, which were closed by the civic body following a fire during an IPL match on May 3, but said no kitchen should be running inside the premises.