We can use treated sewage water for pitches: BCCI

BCCI has told Bombay HC that it will use treated sewage water for 17 matches of the IPL in Mumbai and Pune. It said Kings XI Punjab, an IPL franchise, was willing to shift three of its matches out of Vidarbha to Mohali following the drought.

BCCI said it can use treated sewage water for maintaining the pitches in Mumbai and Pune.

The Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) whether it was willing to contribute to the Chief Minister’s drought relief fund and shift the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches out of Pune.

A Division Bench of Justices V.M. Kanade and M.S. Karnik also asked the Board how many days it used 40 lakh litres of water, and whether it was willing to supply water to the villages facing scarcity.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by the NGO, Loksatta Movement, pointing out that at a time when Maharashtra was reeling under its worst drought and facing acute shortage of water, 60 lakh litres of water was being wasted for maintaining the pitches for the IPL.

Senior counsel Rafiq Dada, appearing for the BCCI, said the Board had requested the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) to provide sewage water which, after treatment, could be used for 17 matches of the IPL in Mumbai and Pune.

Dada said Kings XI Punjab, an IPL franchise, was willing to shift three of its matches out of Vidarbha to Mohali following the drought.

Senior advocate Vineet Naik, on behalf of the Maharashtra Cricket Association, said the association could get the water from the RWITC transported from Mumbai to Pune. The judges asked whether the RWITC would give an undertaking to provide treated sewage water for the games.

Acting Advocate-General Rohit Deo said a preliminary inquiry has been initiated into the source of water.