Amid the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to six cricket stadiums and respective associations seeking an explanation as to why their activities should not be stopped for non-compliance of its directions on sustainable use of water to maintain cricket grounds. The NGT principal bench comprised of chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad passed the order on April 16, while hearing an ongoing execution application on compliance of its 2021 order. The Tribunal had directed cricket associations to regulate groundwater extraction and ensure effective rainwater harvesting for maintenance of cricket grounds. The six stadiums in question are Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur, Dr DY Patil stadium, Navi Mumbai, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad and Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. “In such a background, the submission of counsel for the applicant is that all the activities in these six stadiums should be completely stopped and they should not be allowed to carry out any sports activity therein,” the NGT noted in its order. It thus directed, “Hence a notice is issued to the following six stadiums to explain as to why all their activities should not be stopped on the ground of non-compliance of the Tribunal’s order and not submitting the requisite information.” The Arun Jaitley Stadium is the home ground of IPL team Delhi Capitals, the Ekana Stadium is the home ground of Lucknow Super Giants while the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is the home ground of Sunrisers Hyderabad team. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is one of the two venues where the Rajasthan Royals team play their home matches. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) had on April 15 submitted a compilation of the responses on information related to monthly and yearly quantum of water used for irrigating grounds, proportion of treated water, and fresh water received. Five stadiums and associations – Saurashtra Cricket Association, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, Green Park Stadium, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association had submitted their response. The Saurashtra Cricket Association, for instance, submitted to the CGWA that since installation of a sewage treatment plant (STP) was not feasible, it was using treated 1 lakh litres/day of treated water supplied by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. The Maharashtra Cricket Association has implemented a rainwater harvesting project at Gahunje stadium, Pune, and are also in the process of constructing a STP for circular use of water.
Why should your activities not be stopped due to non-compliance, NGT asks six cricket stadiums
