Sandeep Sarkar, Kolkata: CAB stirs over allegations of buying pitch-making soil from ‘illegal’ traders. A person who supplies soil to prepare twenty two yards, he could not supply soil due to government strictures. CAB representatives appeared in the office of the North 24 Parganas District Magistrate! The news was first written by ABP Live Bangla.
In response to the news, the governing body of Bengal Cricket issued a long statement. Sourav Gangopadhyay’s CAB said on Thursday that soil is procured from established suppliers. However, that statement added to the confusion. It also gave birth to a number of questions.
What exactly is the case?
CAB has been supplying pitches to all affiliated clubs and organizations every season for the past several years. The objective is to create equal pitches in all fields of the field. But this time the problem is with that soil. The person who supplies the soil from North 24 Parganas told CAB that he could not send the soil to Kolkata by car as it was stopped by the police. He also informed that permission should be taken by talking to the District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas. Two representatives of CAB went to the office of the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas and found out that the person who supplied the soil did not have a valid license to cut the soil! Additional District Collector (Land Reforms – ADM LR) asked the CAB representatives, why soil is not taken from legitimate dealers? According to reliable sources, he gave the names and phone numbers of 12 legitimate dealers to the CAB representatives. CAB was also assured to make a similar arrangement this time.
As soon as the news came out, there was a commotion in the CAB. CAB issued a statement three days later. It is written there, ‘CAB is surprised to see the news in the media. CAB has been supplying pitch-making soil to approved grounds for the past 15 years (since 2010). So that equal, good playing suitable sporting wickets can be made and development of cricket in Bengal. Since 2010 soil has been purchased from an established vendor following all commercial norms. CAB maintains all transparency. Appropriate tenders are taken. Some clubs also buy ground independently from these same vendors with whom CAB is not affiliated. It is not the responsibility of CAB or any club to see where the vendor gets the soil from.’
The statement further reads, ‘CAB is committed to purchase land in accordance with the rules of the state government and concerned authorities keeping in mind the recent administrative directives. CAB works in full compliance with the law. CAB denies any allegation of encouraging illegal soil collection. CAB is responsible for appointing vendors in accordance with government directives by transparently tendering through CAB approved channels.’
A section of Maidan was shocked to see the statement of the governing body of Bengal Cricket. From the stale flower scandal to the controversy over the selection of coaches, the CAB’s position and contradictory statements in all cases have created a cloud of doubt instead of clearing the fog. A large section of CAB members feel that the pitch soil debate is not the same. Uncomfortable questions arise one after another.
Where is the notification that CAB said in a statement about the purchase of soil transparent tender? Searching everywhere on CAB’s website or social media, no one sees any notice calling for tenders for land purchase. If so, how is transparency in vendor selection accepted?
It is said that soil is being taken from a vendor established since 2010. However, talking to curators and field workers revealed that the person supplying the soil has changed repeatedly. Is CAB’s claim correct?
The person to whom CAB gave advance money for supply of soil told CAB that he could not send the truck of soil to Kolkata due to police obstruction. The question arises, if he could not, it would have been settled if he cited someone else, then why would the CAB representatives themselves go to the office of the District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas? That’s why even North 24 Parganas Additional District Commissioner (Land Reforms – ADM LR) asked CAB representatives, why CAB is bothering about this? What the dealer is supposed to do, why is the famous sports organization like CAB sending representatives?
It is said in the statement that it is beyond the scope of CAB to see how and where the soil is being cut. But while finalizing the vendor, whether he has a valid license or not, why is it not seen? It is said that in case of transparent tender, submission of soil cutting license falls within the rules of suppliers. Is it accepted?
According to reliable sources, the office of the Additional District Collector (Land Reforms – ADM LR) of North 24 Parganas has asked the concerned vendor to give the spot number and certificate of the land from which the soil will be harvested. Later it is seen that the land belongs to another owner. Why is the person who is involved in such ‘rigging’, immediately excluding him and calling a new tender?
After all, are the government’s ‘recent instructions’ mentioned in the CAB statement, a new rule? Has the new government come to power? Or was it before?
CAB has promised to provide pitch soil since 2010. Was it still tendered? When former CAB secretary, former treasurer Biswaroop Dey was asked about this, he told ABP Live Bangla, ‘The curator decides what kind of soil, where soil will be taken. Praveer Mukhopadhyay used to decide. Sujan Mukherjee fixed it after he died. They mainly communicate with the supplier. Then I would ask that person to bid. After he placed the bid, a notice was given on the notice board in CAB. Then the land was bought.’
Did anyone from CAB go and see if the soil is being cut illegally from any land? Did the vendor have valid documents or not? Vishwarup says, ‘No, that is not even possible for CAB. And tendering is a big deal. cost effective Moreover, the question may be raised as to why soil is not being taken from legitimate dealers in North 24 Parganas or Hooghly, South 24 Parganas or other districts. Making the matter so big will not be the real work.’ However, in this age of technology, e-tendering on websites, social media pages is not only expensive, but can be done quickly. Why is the CAB not taking that path? And the list of 12 legal dealers has been given, even if they belong to North 24 Parganas, they can legally cut soil from any part of the state. In that case, there is no rule that he has to cut the soil from a certain place.
Madanmohan Ghosh, former chairman of the Grounds Committee, who was in charge from 2019 to 2025, said, ‘The curator used to look at soil samples and tell which soil is needed. That soil was also tested. Then the quotation was taken. I never went to see where the vendor is getting that soil from.’ But at the time of taking the quotation, whether the vendor has a license or not, why was it not seen? There is no answer.
Another former CAB Grounds Committee chief, who was also the CAB’s joint secretary, Debbrata Das said, ‘When I was in charge, I used to go to places where soil was taken from. And the last 16 years are being talked about since 2010. Does anyone remember where the soil was cut from 15-16 years ago? Soil is not harvested from the same land every time. And if there is a mistake, where is the problem to correct it? The Lodha Committee has spoken of transparency in all areas. Trying to bring clarity without giving a statement would have been a work in progress.’
