Making the move

KOCHI: After being locked in a tussle over exemption of entertainment tax, complimentary passes and sealing of tickets during the IPL matches here last season, the Kochi Corporation has decided to speed up the proceedings to help the Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) management get the refund due to them on unused tickets.The IPL team had already submitted the necessary statements to the corporation authorities stating the amount that the latter owed them. “We are processing the financial statement submitted by the KTK. The assessment will be made based on the total number of tickets sold out of the bunch of tickets sealed,” Kochi Corporation secretary Ajith Patil told City Express.He said that the process was delayed due to the Koch Tuskers submitting the necessary details late. “They submitted the details only last month. Now we will have to calculate the total amount due to them. For example, if the Corporation has sealed 1000 tickets of Rs 600 each and they have paid the entertainment tax for the entire thousand tickets, the team owners will have to present the remaining number of sealed tickets that were left unsold,” added Patel.The details will be sent to the Finance Standing Committee which will analyse it. They will then be presented at the Corporation Council, which will give its final node,” the Secretary added. He also made it clear that since it was a high value event, the civic body was ready to refund the amount due to the IPL team.The issue related to tax exemption between the civic body and the KTK management had delayed the sales of tickets for five IPL matches played at the J N Stadium here. The team management had alleged that the authorities’ demand for an increased number of complimentary passes had caused a delay in sealing tickets.  Countering the allegations, the Corporation said that the delay on the part of the Kochi IPL franchise in remitting the tax money was the only reason for the delay. Now, with the Corporation authorities making it clear that they are ready to pay the refund, it is the turn of the IPL franchise to decide whether to play their home matches next season here or move away to another city.