MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday barred the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) from drawing water from the Pavana river to maintain the Pune cricket stadium.
It also expressed shock at the state government’s decision which permitted the association to do so, terming it as “illegal”.
A division Bench of Justices AS Oka and Riyaz Chagla ruled that the state government was not entitled to grant permission to the MCA for use of water for industrial purposes as the IPL comes under the category of recreation.
“We are shocked to note that for a period of six years, the state government has allowed the MCA to draw water from the Pavanariver for industrial purposes when admittedly the MCA is not running any industry. The water is being used for the stadium,” the court was quoted by media reports in its order as having stated.
“The government’s action violates the principles of equitable distribution. The government is a trustee of water available in rivers,” it said.
The MCA recently wished to renew its deal with the state government for use of Pavana water at the stadium.
The Bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an NGO, Loksatta Movement, in 2016 raising concerns over water usage for ground management during the IPL when the state was reeling in drought.
Meanwhile, the court accepted the statement of the Mumbai Cricket Association, which manages the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, that it would not be seeking any additional water supply from the BMC for ground maintenance during the IPL matches this year.
It also accepted the affidavit filed by the BMC stating that there will not be any additional water supply to the Wankhede stadium for the IPL tournament.
