UPDATE: Possible solution for drought-hit Maharashtra's water crisis and IPL in works (April 12, 2016)
What can only be called as finding the dodgy middle path as Maharashtra Cricket Association or MCA’s lawyer in their affidavit said that the recycled water is to be provided by Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) in the stadiums hosting IPL matches in Maharashtra.
“This supply of water by RWITC will be sufficient for us to maintain pitches.” said MCA lawyers. "So this will help us to tackle water crisis without using potable water" he added. All the matches in Mumbai and Pune will use the recycled water.
There are some reports that indicate that Kings XI Punjab is ready to host the 3 matches from Nagpur to Mohali.
Claims made in courtroom are one thing and actually using recycled water in the stadiums is another. There is a need to have strict and stern eye on the water supply in these stadiums.
First Published: IPL in drought-hit Maharashtra is a luxury that the state is not prepared for
It looks like the ghost of the past for IPL is hauntingly running towards the present. It is literally impossible to keep the cricketing tournament, the Indian Premier League, and controversy away. And the recent one seems a serious controversy where the IPL senior officials are as per usual making hollow rant for mellowing the situation.
Maharashtra, as we all know, is suffering from one of the worst drought in the recent past. The situation was so out of control in Latur that the government had to intervene and impose section 144 to avoid any sort of water related riots. Each person the area is living at a meager 5 liters per day and about 55000 liters of water is provided to the region.
And in complete contrast, the maintenance of the pitch of three stadiums in Maharashtra for the glittering Indian Premier League will take up 22 lakhs liters of water. The maintenance of outfield will cost the drought-hit region around 65 lakhs of water. And this is a lot when compared with the deterring conditions of the state.
All this was brought in light after the Maharashtra high court responded to a PIL that was filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar. "This is a serious issue and we need to look into it," the high court said and posted the PIL for hearing tomorrow.
"There is already a scarcity of drinking water and water for sanitation purposes and the state authorities are turning a blind eye," the petition said.
"The IPL Commissioner should be asked to pay tax of Rs. 1,000 per liter for meeting expenses of supplying water to the drought-affected district," said the PIL, which is expected to come up for hearing soon.
But in response Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of Indian Premier League said, “As far as the question of drought, water is concerned, we are with the farmers of Maharashtra, we are ready to help in all possible ways, if the Maharashtra Government brings a proposal, then BCCI President, all of us will think in what way we can help the farmers. I, through my MPLAD fund, am going to personally adopt some villages. There is a water crisis in Marathwada that will be solved.” He said this at an event organized by Vivo, the title sponsor.
“If the water needed to irrigate two-three grounds were to solve the problem of Maharashtra’s farmers that would be another thing. I don’t think this (saving water by shifting matches) would serve any purpose. Sport is a different thing, it needs little water. Farmers need huge amount of water, all political parties should come together to deal with this crisis of water shortage,” Shukla added.
A total of 20 matches, including the first match and final match, will be played in the three cities of the state – Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.
Image Credit: WSJ.com
