Responding to the Bombay High Court, the BCCI said that it would use treated sewage water for the ground maintenance in IPL matches, which are scheduled to happen in the areas of drought-hit Maharashtra.

Rafiq Dada, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) counsel, submitted that, “We have tied-up with Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) to procure treated sewage water for the IPL matches to be played in Pune and Mumbai.”

The High Court bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Karnik heared a PIL filed by NGO Loksatta Movement. It was about the large usage of water for ground maintenance in stadiums, in spite of the drought-hit areas in the state.

The BCCI counsel said, “In this case, instead of discharging treated sewage water into the sea, we are using it in the stadiums.” Nine IPL cricket matches would be played in Pune, while eight in Mumbai. Three matches are planned to be conducted in Nagpur. BCCI is also ready to shift venues, if asked for.

Also read: Special water train to drought-hit Latur

'Using treated sewage water should be encouraged'

Dada said that nearly seven to eight tankers of sewage water are used every day for the ground maintenance in stadiums. The concept of sewage water usage should be encouraged as the treated sewage water is released into the sea and it goes waste, he added.

- Sumana