In the backdrop of drought in the state, Mumbai BJP secretary Vivekananda Gupta has demanded that Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches scheduled to be played in Maharashtra should be shifted out of the state. In a letter written to BCCI president Shashank Manohar, he stated that a standard cricket field requires a minimum of 80,000 to 1,00,000 litres of water per application.
“Approximately two to three such applications are required per week that comes to 1,60,000 to 3,00,000 litres of water per week to maintain turf growth and repair damaged areas. More water is needed in hot windy conditions and less in cooler conditions,” he said. There are 19 IPL matches that are planned to be played at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur between April 9 and May 29 and the final match of the tournament is to be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 29.
“Thus in the 19 matches to be played in Maharashtra more than 70 lakh litres of water will be used to maintain the cricket grounds. In Maharashtra, successive years of low rainfall have resulted in falling groundwater levels and early drying of natural streams. Nearly 90 lakh farmers in Maharashtra have been impacted by the drought,” Mr Gupta said.
The BJP leader further said that Maharashtra, the state that the BCCI president hails from, is facing one of its worst droughts in the last century.
“Rainfall in last two years in Marathwada and Vidharbha region was the lowest. Successive low rainfall has resulted in falling ground water levels, which has impacted 90 lakh farmers in the state,” he said.
Mr Gupta said Mr Manohar cannot turn a blind eye to the grim drought situation in the state and the sufferings of the farmers.
“When our state is affected by drought, will it be wise to waste 70 lakh litres of water Even Mumbai faces acute water shortage. This is the time to show sympathy to our ‘annadatta’ (farmer). I hope you will support and sympathise with our farmers and shift the venue of IPL matches to other states,” he said.
