BCCI agrees to provide water, Rs 5 crore for drought relief in Maharashtra

Pune franchise lawyer refused to shift the matches, saying that shifting will lead them to lose their local support benefit

In the wake of severe water crisis situation in Maharashtra, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that it is willing to supply 40 lakh litres of water to the drought-affected areas in the state besides agreeing to contribute Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister Relief fund for the same cause.

Earlier, the BCCI had proposed before the court that they would use treated sewage water for the 17 Indian Premier League matches, which will be supplied by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITF).

Read more from our special coverage on "DROUGHT"

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• BCCIs plan for IPL matches: Use treated sewage water for ground maintenance
• Water train leaves Miraj for drought-hit Latur
• Shifting IPL matches not solution to drought: M S Dhoni
• SC questions Centres seriousness on drought

On the High Court's demand to submit the report in written, the RWITC had given their undertaking to supply required amount of recycled sewage water for Mumbai and Pune stadiums, insisting that they would not back out from their agreement.

A total of 20 matches are scheduled to be held in Mumbai (nine), Pune (eight) and Nagpur (three).

The court, hearing a PIL filed by the NGO 'Loksatta Movement' against the hosting of IPL matches in Maharashtra, stated that they would also consult the franchise of Virbhadra Cricket Association if they could shift the matches out of Nagpur.

The petitioners, however, informed the court that Kings XI Punjab and VCA had been served notice through the mail to be made party in the matter after the franchise agreed to shift all its three matches out of Nagpur to Mohali.

Meanwhile, the Pune franchise lawyer refused to shift the matches out of their home ground, saying that shifting of their games means they would lose their local support benefit.

Earlier, the court had given green signal for the opening match of the ninth season between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, saying the public interest litigation was filed too late and the organisers have already made the necessary arrangements.