MCA continues judicial fight to seek additional water supply during IPL

With the IPL set to kickstart later tonight, all the penultimate preparations have begun. And earlier yesterday, the Bombay High Court asked the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) if it would require additional water supply for the mega-event. The first game of IPL 2018 is slated to take place at the Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai and to avoid any hindrance, the state apex court wanted to confirm if MCA would need more water supply from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)

Previously, a public interest litigation was filed by NGO Loksatta Movement in 2016, raising concerns over water usage for ground management during the IPL when Maharashtra was reeling under a drought. The petitioners’ demanded that considering the water situation in Maharashtra, no additional water be supplied to any stadium in the state for the IPL.

The division bench of justices comprising A S Oka and Riyaz Chagla hearing the case then asked the MCA if it planned to seek additional water for the tournament.MCA counsel AS Khandeparkar said he would seek instructions from the cricket body, but also reiterated that the stadium does not use potable water for other than drinking purposes.

Maharashtra government has to submit its current water policy

As per the state’s water policy, water supply is divided into four categories. The supply for drinking purpose gets priority, while that for events such as ‘Shahi Snaan’ during Kumbh Mela falls in the last category in terms of priority.

While the petitioners claimed that the Indian Premier League also falls in the last category, the BCCI and the MCA said it was a sports event, and hence fell in the ‘recreation’ category.

Last week, the court had asked the BMC if it would stick to its decision to not supply additional water to the Wankhede Stadium during the IPL. However, BMC lawyer Suresh Pakale has sought more time to file an affidavit. On the other hand, the court also asked the Maharashtra government to submit its current water policy on April 14, the next date of hearing.

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