Clarify on water source for IPL matches in Pune: HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) to explain from where it will take the excess water it needs to conduct the six Indian Premier League (IPL) matches moved to Pune from Chennai over Cauvery water protests.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice R.I. Chagla sought the clarification after the petitioner in the public interest litigation submitted that the IPL governing council has decided to shift six matches. The court has posted the matter for Wednesday.

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.