Won't use potable water for ground maintenance in IPL: MCA to HC

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Saturday gave an undertaking to Bombay High Court, stating it will not use potable water for watering the pitch or in other maintenance work of the Wankhede stadium, during the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.

The MCA further informed that only recycled water would be used for maintenance work during this year's IPL.

The development came in the wake of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Loksatta Movement in 2016, against hosting the IPL matches in Maharashtra due to the prevailing drought-like situation in the state at that time.

A PIL was filed in the High Court stating that about 66 lakh litres of water was spent on maintaining pitches at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai and Sahara stadium in Pune during the 2013 edition of IPL.

Though the 2016 matches of the T20 lucrative tournament were shifted from drought-hit Maharashtra, the PIL had also urged the court to ensure that the national water policy adhere to the IPL matches in the future as well.

The 2018 edition of the IPL will be held from April 6 to May 27.