Sunny side up, as govt relents

MUMBAI: Nothing can be as remunerative as cricket in India, and the Maharashtra government has proved it. Nearly two decades after he batted last for the country, the state government has showered more largesse on the original little master, Sunil Gavaskar. The government has now offered to settle for less in the profit-sharing agreement for a proposed cricket academy.

Mr Gavaskar wanted to set up an indoor cricket academy at Bandra, one of Mumbai’s expensive suburbs. The state government in 1987 sanctioned a 2,000 sq mt plot to the little master with a condition that the work on the academy should begin not later that 18 months. But nothing has happened even after 20 years. The reason: Mr Gavaskar’s objection to the government’s profit-sharing formula.

The state government, while sanctioning the plot, had made it clear that it would take away 50% of the proposed academy’s net profit since it was going to be a commercial venture and not a charitable one. Besides the training facilities, Mr Gavaskar had also wanted to set up other recreation facilities such as a club, a canteen, etc in the plot. “There was nothing wrong in asking Mr Gavaskar to contribute to the state exchequer,” a finance ministry official said.

However, Mr Gavaskar found the proposition less attractive as he was ready to offer only 10% of its earnings to the state. As the government was not willing to accept this, the project was in a limbo.

Normally, in such circumstances, the government would have taken the land back as the proposed project didn’t come up in the stipulated time. The rules make it clear that the collectors under whose jurisdiction the land falls, can begin land acquisition process if the project fails to meet any set down condition. In this case, however, government after government kept ignoring the rules.

Finally, the Vilasrao Deshmukh government has found a way out. It decided to give up half of its earlier demand. The new rules say that Mr Gavaskar shall have to pay only 25% of his profits instead of 50% demanded earlier.

“We continue to pamper cricket and cricketers at the cost of the state,” an official remarked. According to top sources, senior finance and revenue ministry officials had opposed the concession, but the Deshmukh cabinet overruled them. “In a democracy all are equal, but cricketers are more equal,” said a bureaucrat recalling how the government had waived all taxes on little master No 2, Sachin Tendulkar’s plush Ferrari.