Mumbai: Yesterday, on Tuesday 12th April, the honourable Bombay High Court asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India- BCCI to consider, if it can, the shifting of some of the Indian Premier League cricket events out of Pune, Maharashtra.
The said decision was made by the high court’s concerned bench comprising of Justice- V. M. Kanade and Justice- M. S. Karnik while they were hearing a Public Interest Litigation- PIL which was filed by the Non- Governmental Organisation- Loksatta Movement and Foundation for the Democratic Reforms. In the said PIL the petitioner preferred to question the “misuse” of the lakhs of litres of water by the Cricket management bodies for maintaining the cricket pitches in the stadiums located in Maharashtra, where a serious drought issue is already prevailing.
As per the sources, the IPL- Indian Premier League’s around twenty cricket matches are to be played in Maharashtra and out of them nine matches are to be played in Pune, eight in Mumbai and remaining three matches are to be played at Nagpur- based stadium.
It was seen earlier morning session by the Court, when it took the note of the press release of the Statements which were preferred by the franchisee- Punjab Kings XI, wherein that franchisee may shift all three matches out of the Nagpur, thus, it has asked the franchisee to be impleaded so that it can also ascertain its stand.
It was also seen that the BCCI had also informed to the bench that it will use the treated sewage water for maintaining such cricket pitches for the 17 matches which are to be played in Mumbai and Pune. The BCCI representing senior lawyer- Rafiq Dada also found stated in the court that a request for the provision of water from the sewage of the Royal Western India Turf Club is made for treatment plant at Mahalaxmi racecourse. Moreover, the advocate appearing for the Maharashtra Cricket Association also informed in the similar extent. However, the early Mumbai match of IPL has already been held in Mumbai only.
