HC Raps BCCI, Puts Maharashtra IPL in Troubled Waters

The Board of Control for Cricket in India continues to find itself in choppy waters. Facing an existential crisis in the Supreme Court vis-a-vis implementing the Justice Lodha panel recommendations, another hurdle now confronts the beleaguered body, threatening to affect the IPL.

Hearing a PIL filed by an NGO against wastage of water during IPL matches against the backdrop of drought in vast areas of Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday observed the matches should be shifted out of the State.

With the ninth edition of the event starting in Mumbai on Saturday, the matter will come up for hearing on Thursday. Pune and Nagpur are the other cities in Maharashtra on the IPL map. The three are scheduled to host 20 ties and all will be represented by their counsel in the court on Thursday. The PIL opposed the use of huge volume of water to maintain pitches. Estimates suggest that Mumbai and Pune, hosting eight and nine games respectively, need about 40 lakh litres during this period. The figure will be less in Nagpur with the city hosting three matches.

“These are observations, not an order. It’s an internal matter of the State and the government has to deal with it. As far as we’re concerned, there’s no talk of moving matches out of Maharashtra. We’ll present our views to the court. If a proposal comes, we’ll consider how we can help the farmers and the State. We can also release a sum to help those affected,” IPL governing council chairman Rajeev Shukla told Express.

On the PIL filed by NGO Loksatta Movement, the court said, “How can you waste water like this? Are people more important or IPL matches? This is criminal wastage. You know the condition in Maharashtra. Ideally, you should shift the matches to some other State where water is in abundance.”

IPL governing council member Ajay Shirke, who heads the Maharashtra Cricket Association and is in-charge of the Pune stadium, said the establishment shouldn’t be seen as insensitive. “Latur is worst-affected and we have cancelled district matches there. We understand humanitarian necessities. Even if we scrap IPL matches, can the water be used in affected areas?” Officials at all the venues said water used to maintain the pitch and outfield is not drinkable and they either buy or make own arrangements.

curb wastage, states told

Following a representation by Save Water Society, an NGO, which stated that about 50 per cent of potable water leaks before it reaches the consumer, the Centre has asked all states to take suitable measures to prevent leakage of water.