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BCCI to develop eco-friendly stadia

The BCCI has written to the Union ministries of power and environment to “guide” it in developing green stadia as part of its new ‘Go Green’ initiative, its new president Anurag Thakur said on Monday.

The BCCI has written to the Union ministries of power and environment to “guide” it in developing green stadia as part of its new ‘Go Green’ initiative, its new president Anurag Thakur said on Monday.

“We have earmarked Rs 100 crore for our ‘Go Green’ initiative wherein existing cricket stadia across the country are being converted into green stadia. We have already written to the Central ministers of Power and Environment to guide us in this regard,” Thakur said in an interaction.

He was speaking after inaugurating two new cricket grounds developed by the Andhra Cricket Association and the Krishna District Cricket Association at Mulapadu village, 25 kilometres from Vijayawada.

“We are putting up solar panels in all stadiums for power generation. We will have rainwater harvesting structures in place. We will use sewerage water, treat it and reuse it for the grounds. We will also use LED bulbs to bring in energy efficiency. We will also do an energy audit to make the green stadia,” Thakur elaborated.

He said some state cricket associations like Maharashtra and Karnataka have done well in solar and other environment issues, water treatment or rain water harvesting.

“We have asked those associations also to guide us,” he added.

Asked about his priorities in terms of building (cricket) infrastructure in the country, Thakur pointed out that no other sports federation or board created such infrastructure as the BCCI did in the last few decades.

“Most affiliates or permanent members of BCCI created their own international stadiums and academies, which is a good thing.

“In Australia and other countries, the grounds are common grounds created by their governments, not the national boards. I think BCCI is one organisation appreciated all over the world.

“They look up to the BCCI and its functioning. I am sure we cannot do much better in future,” Thakur remarked.

Asked when would Visakhapatnam get to host a cricket Test match, since it has already been granted necessary status, the BCCI chief quipped “whenever the Andhra Cricket Association president and the secretary request us.”

Thakur and BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke complimented the ACA for creating “such a beautiful facility” with two separate cricket grounds and air-conditioned residential accommodation for players and officials.

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