IPL (Indian Premier League) 2021 – Water Wastage Charges on IPL: With IPL hosting games every day, maintaining pitch and keeping it match-ready requires umpteen resources and an abundance of water supply. However, expressing concern over use of potable water for maintaining cricket stadiums during IPL and other tournaments, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti to hold a meeting within a month to consider the issue of regulating extraction of ground water.
The issues for consideration includes:
• Prohibiting use of ground water for maintenance of the play grounds at least during the time no match is being actually played and exploring utilization of STP treated water.
• The tribunal also suggested laying down mandatory requirement of engagement of an environmental expert for every cricket stadium for ensuring compliance with the environmental norms and using every sport event with the program of awareness for environment protection.
• Efforts should be made to save potable water for drinking and cricket or other such grounds may be maintained, as far as possible,
• Ensuring that effective rain water harvesting and water storage/recharging systems are installed in all playgrounds to save the ground water.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said there can be no dispute with the proposition that conservation of water is dire need of the environment.
“Every effort is required to save potable water for drinking and cricket or other such grounds may be maintained, as far as possible, from the Sewage Treatment Plant of high quality having no pathogens and offensive components. Also rain water harvesting and storage of such water may be ensured,” it said.
“We have not considered it necessary to issue notice as the above order does not involve adjudication of any disputed rights and is being passed in view of undisputed environmental obligation. We hope the concerned Authorities will act with a sense of responsibility and duty to reduce environmental footprint and societal need for conservation of every drop of water,” the bench added.
