IPL: Mumbai Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Admits no Potable Water to Maintain Cricket Grounds

Faced with criticism over large quantity of water usage for pitches for Indian Premier League, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said Maharashtra is fine with the IPL matches being shifted out of the state, but will not provide potable water for maintaining cricket grounds. (Indian Premier League: Anurag Thakur to Meet Mumbai Indians, Rising Pune Supergiants to Discuss Maharashtra Crisis)

"Even if IPL is shifted from Maharashtra this season, we do not have any problem. No potable water will be provided for IPL this season," Fadnavis said.

His comments came a day after the Bombay High Court refused to grant a stay on the first of the IPL cricket matches scheduled Saturday.

The court had also sought to know from the state government and the municipal body whether the water supplied to the stadiums in tankers was potable or non-potable.  (IPL: Bombay High Court Tells BCCI to Shift Matches From Drought-Hit Maharashtra)

A city-based NGO had petitioned the court challenging the use of over 60 lakh litres of water to maintain pitches and sought shifting of IPL matches out of the state given the second successive drought it is experiencing.

Altogether 20 matches will be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur and all these cities are facing grim water crisis, said the petition.

On two consecutive days, the High Court had come down heavily on the state government, IPL organiser Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and other cricket associations for "criminal wastage of water".

The court had suggested for the IPL matches to be shifted to a state where water is in abundance and had asked "is your cricket match more important than people". (Rajeev Shukla Rules Out Shifting Indian Premier League Matches Out of Maharashtra)

The court was informed by BCCI that they purchase water to maintain the grounds and it is non-potable and cannot be used for drinking purposes.