The five pitches over here require about 20 to 35 thousand litres of water.
Mumbai
: Reacting strongly to a PIL filed by NGO Loksatta Movement, the Bombay High Court clean bowled the BCCI, ordering its cash rich league to be shifted out of the drought-hit region after April 30. The judgement, however, comes not only as a major logistical loss to the IPL but also as a titanic blow to the pitches in the allocated venues. “The grass on the pitches requires water after every 70-80 hours to maintain its greenery. If not watered after the stipulated time period, it will die,” Amar Karlekar, pitch curator at Vidarbha Cricket Association (Jamtha stadium in Nagpur) said. Nagpur was chosen to host three IPL games in May. When quizzed if the existing pitches will be watered in the subsequent days, Karlekar said the 22-yard strip was watered recently but if it doesn’t receive adequate water ahead, then it will lead to huge losses. “The five pitches over here require about 20 to 35 thousand litres of water. We water the pitches with sewage water. If the pitches die then it will be a loss of about Rs 20 lakhs,” Karlekar added. The VCA are awaiting further orders whether the pitches can be watered or not.
