New Delhi: The Bombay High Court will take a final decision today in connection with shifting the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches out of drought-hit Maharashtra.
On Tuesday, hearing a PIL against the hosting of IPL matches in Maharashtra, the court asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider shifting the matches out of state, while seeking reply from the board by next hearing scheduled to be held today.
The High Court also asked the BCCI if they could provide 40 lakh litres of water that they had used earlier to the drought-affected areas.
The BCCI, however, insisted before the court that they would use recycled sewage water for maintaining pitches for the 17 IPL matches to be held in Mumbai and Pune.
According to the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) lawyer, the treated sewage water will be supplied by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITF), which will in turn be helpful in tackling water crisis without using potable water.
Earlier, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Loksatta Movement and others stated that as much as 60 lakh litres of water is proposed to be used for maintaining cricket pitches in the three venues that will host the IPL matches in Maharashtra.
Earlier, hearing the PIL, a division Bench headed by Justice VM Kanade refused to stay the first match between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants at the Wankhede in Mumbai on April 9.
However, the court asked the the government to give a detailed reply by April 12. It has also asked the organisers to hold a meeting and a take decision on other matches to be held in Maharashtra.
The High Court had earlier also reprimanded MCA for the many litres of water it will use to prepare pitches for the world's richest cricket tournament at a time when large parts of the state are reeling under drought.
There have been demands to shift all IPL matches out of Maharashtra due to the crisis in the state as in the on-going season of IPL, Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - are scheduled to host a total of 20 games.
The final is also scheduled to be held at the Wankhede Stadium on May 29.
