Maharashtra drought: Sewage water will be used to maintain IPL pitches, BCCI tells Bombay High Court

Earlier, the Bombay High Court had asked the organisers to hold a meeting and a take decision on other matches to be held in Maharashtra.

New Delhi: The Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) has agreed to use sewage water for the maintenance of pitches in the Indian Premier League after receiving flak from the Bombay High Court over the issue of severe water crisis in the state.

In its reply to the court, Maharashtra Cricket Association said that recycled sewage water provided by RWITC will be used.

The BCCI lawyer infomed the court that Kings XI Punjab are ready to shift three matches earlier scheduled to be played in Nagpur to Mohali.

According to a report on Times Now, the board is keen on shifting at least five matches out of the state.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court is all set to hear the government's stand on the water crisis issue today.

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.