MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) seeking a reply on the measures it will take to procure the excess water it needs to conduct the six Indian Premier League (IPL) matches moved to Pune from Chennai in the wake of the ongoing protest against the Centre’s negligence for the formation of Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice RI Chagla sought the clarification after the petitioner NGO Loksatta Movement in a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, submitted that the IPL governing council has decided to shift six matches. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday, April 18.
It is worth noting that in 2016 as well, the same petitioner had convinced the Bombay HC to issue an order that all the IPL matches awarded to Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium be shifted out during the ninth edition of the tournament.
During the hearing of their petition, Loksatta argued that Pune gets water supply only from Pawana river and that if the ground is to be prepared for IPL matches a lot of water would be needed which eventually affect the water supply of the prevailing drought-like situation of the state.
Meanwhile, Suresh Pakale, counsel for the BMC, on Friday informed the court that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was ready to give ‘special’ water charged at a higher rate than normal for the additional IPL matches in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The BMC had informed the High Court during the last hearing that it would not provide special or additional water to the Wankhede Stadium for IPL matches over and above the regular supply during the last five years. The court then directed the civic body to disclose if it intended to continue with its policy of not providing additional water to the Wankhede Stadium for cricket matches.
Loksatta Movement, a non-governmental organisation, filed the petition in 2016 raising concern about water usage for ground management during IPL matches during drought.
In April 2016, the court directed the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) to move outside the state all IPL matches scheduled for Maharashtra from the following month.
A petitioner informed the court on Friday that the state had after the last hearing decided to allow the Vidarbha Cricket Association and the MCA to use water provided for irrigation purposes for ground management.
