By News18,Vivek Ganapathy

Copyright news18

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has introduced significantly higher tariffs and stringent penalties for organisers who fail to return the five facilities here in good condition after such gatherings in an attempt to preserve the sanctity of its stadia that also host non-sports events during off off-season.
SAI has five venues in Delhi — Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) and Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
SAI said that national and international-level sports events organised by the federations and associations recognised by the sports ministry will not have to pay anything to hire the venues, except for electricity charges.
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The JLN, primarily an athletics and football venue, is among the most popular sites for hosting non-sports events like music concerts. Previously, Indian artists could book its main arena for a relatively low Rs 4.5 lakh. The revised tariffs, notified on September 18, have increased the booking cost to Rs 25 lakh, offering relief to international performers who earlier paid about Rs 50 lakh.
“The main arena of the JLN Stadium will be rented for non-sports events on the condition that the event organiser ensures proper protection cover (mats/rugs etc.) of the area to be utilised on the Field of Play,” stated the 66-page SAI notification.
SAI mentioned that failure to ensure post-event clean-up would result in a penalty of 10 per cent of the per day tariff, and it could also “blacklist” such organisers from future event bookings. These penalties address the poor condition in which SAI has sometimes received its venues, as seen after popular Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Dil-Luminati’ concert, which left the stadium in a messy state.
“We had not increased the rates since 2011, and this is to safeguard the sanctity of our facilities and ensure they are returned in good condition. We don’t want athletes to be affected by commercial activities,” a SAI source told PTI.
Athletes have been raising concerns about garbage-ridden and damaged venues affecting their training routines after non-sports events. In its revised terms and conditions for hiring venues, SAI reiterated that organisers must hand over the venues in a “neat and clean state after the programme.”
The Indira Gandhi Sports Complex’s main arena, previously available for Rs 8 lakh for non-sports events like music and fashion shows and film screenings, will now cost Rs 16 lakh per day for up to five days according to the revised tariffs. The IG Complex offers facilities for boxing, gymnastics, wrestling, and a cycling velodrome.
For the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, primarily a hockey venue, SAI has set the tariff for the main pavilion and spectator gallery at Rs 5 lakh per day. The concrete area around the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex, previously hired for a nominal Rs 30,000 per day, will now be available at Rs 5 lakh.
Sports events will continue to cost a fraction of these rates, with those organised by the sports ministry, national federations, and state bodies pegged at Rs 40,000 per day at the main arena of JLN Stadium.
“No charges will apply for National (with state participation) and International Level Competitions organised by federations/associations recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, except for electricity charges,” the SAI stated in its notification.
For schools, colleges, universities, and registered societies, the fee has been set at Rs 1 lakh at JLN Stadium, Rs 25,000 at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, and Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 for various ranges of the Karni Singh Arena.