The Indian Premier League (IPL) matches scheduled after 30 April in Maharashtra will be shifted out of the state, the Bombay High Court said on Wednesday.
A bench of Justices VM Kanade and MS Karnik heard a PIL by NGO Loksatta Movement challenging use of large quantities of water in stadiums at a time when the state was reeling under severe drought conditions.
Five matches will be played in Maharashtra this month.
There were 13 IPL matches scheduled to be held in Maharashtra after 30 April. The 13 matches that will move out include six to be played in Pune, four in Mumbai and three in Nagpur.
These matches will now be shifted to new venues as per the court direction. The matches scheduled until 30 April can be, however, held in Maharashtra.
Also read:
HC Questions BCCI on Use of Sewage Water for Ground Maintainance
It is a welcome move. I would have been happy if the government would have taken this decision. I would have been happy if IPL or BCCI would have come forward and cooperated on this decision. As far as going to the Supreme Court is concerned, we will study the order by this evening. We’ll go everywhere, wherever we can get water.Surendra Shrivastava, Petitioner, NGO Loksatta
The Maharashtra government had said that it is not against the matches being shifted out of the state but that will not solve the problem.
To that, the HC said that shifting matches wont solve the problem but if water is diverted to drought hit areas problem can be solved to some extent.
The petitioner will study the HC order and then decide on whether or not to move the Supreme Court.
(With PTI inputs)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)