Bombay HC suggests shifting IPL out of drought-hit Maharashtra

The Indian Premier League matches which are scheduled to be held in Maharashtra, are facing uncertainty after the Bombay High Court questioned the wastage of water during IPL matches in the drought-hit state. On Wednesday, the Court answering a Public Interest Litigation, which sought a direction to the IPL chairman to pay tax on the usage of water, asked whether water should be conserved in such testing times or rather be wasted in IPL matches.

"How can you waste water like this? Are people more important or IPL? How can you be so careless," the court said, .

The cricket governing body argued that the water used for watering the pitches are purchased and are suitable for drinking.

However, the Court once again shot down the governing body’s attitude and said that, "Only if water supply to BCCI is cut will you understand," .

The Bombay High Court’s criticism of the IPL matches comes a day after IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla ruled out the shifting of matches from the drought-hit state.

“As far as the question of drought, water is concerned, we are with the farmers of Maharashtra, we are ready to help in all possible ways.

“If the Maharashtra government brings a proposal, then the BCCI president, all of us will think in what way we can help the farmers, and I, through my MPLAD fund, am going to personally adopt some villeges...there is a water crisis in Marathwada, that will be solved,” .

Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur are the three cities in Maharashtra, which are scheduled to host the IPL matches. Defending champions Mumbai Indians are scheduled to play their home matches at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, while newcomers Rising Pune Supergiants, led by M S Dhoni, will play their matches at the MCA stadium in Pune.