Maharashtra drought: SC upholds Bombay High Court’s order; no Indian Premier League matches in state after May 1

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled Mumbai and Maharashtra’s plea against Bombay High Court’s order of shifting Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 matches out of drought-hit Maharashtra.

"It is better to move out the matches in wake of the drought," the court observed.

Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur were to host 13 IPL 2016 matches including final at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on May 29.

On April 13, the Bombay High Court advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to shift all the remaining Indian Premier League matches scheduled in Maharashtra on and after April 30 onwards to another state.

The Bombay HC observed that shifting of IPL matches will not be solving the problem, but if water is diverted to drought hit areas problem can be solved to some extent.

The Bombay HC had been hearing the apprehensions of moving the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches out of Pune and Mumbai due to severe water crisis.

The High Court also stated the Maharashtra Government to monitor the promised water (by BCCI), see that its supplied to affected areas.

The High Court also said that plight of people affected by drought cannot be ignored before adding that the state's water policy should be monitored.

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.