Saurashtra Cricket Association slapped notice for land 'encroachment'

Gujarat Revenue Department has issued a notice to the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) for allegedly encroaching on government land adjoining its stadium on the city outskirts.

A Mamlatdar (revenue officer) of Padadhari taluka issued the notice asking the SCA to reply within seven days or face legal action and penalty. "It has come to our notice that 2.5 hectares of land has been allegedly encroached by the SCA. You are asked to reply within seven days. If you fail to do so, legal action would be taken against the association," Mamlatdar B K Patel was quoted as saying in the notice.

Before issuing the notice, a team from the department was sent to ascertain whether the SCA had encroached on the the government land near the stadium, a venue for IPL as well as international matches, at Khandheri village. The SCA is hosting IPL matches and the next match would be played between Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab on May 1.

Despite repeated efforts SCA officials could not be contacted for comment on the issue.