Bombay High Court had allowed IPL's first match of the season to be played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. (Image courtesy: BCCI)
Highlights
- Court: Can't ignore the fact that people are dying due to water shortage
- 13 IPL matches scheduled in the state in May, including finale on May 29
- Organisers offered 60 lakhs of treated sewage water to drought-hit areas
No IPL matches will be held in Maharashtra in May, which is under siege from drought, the Bombay High Court ruled today.
In May, there are 13 matches scheduled for the state -- including the finale, which was to be held in Mumbai on May 29.
"We cannot lose sight of the plight of millions of poor people," the judges said, adding that though banning cricket matches won't solve the problem, water meant for cricket pitches should be diverted to drought-hit areas like Latur, where a special train arrived yesterday, bearing desperately-needed water for one of the most parched regions of the state.
"I hope this decision will raise the collective consciousness needed to solve the water crisis," said Shaina NC, a top BJP leader in Maharashtra. She said the government is committed to delivering 75 lakh litres of water in the next seven days to drought-hit areas. "I hope corporates and others will help," she urged.
Before the verdict, a series of offers were made today in court to prevent the relocation of games from Pune, Nagpur and Mumbai, where the grand finale was to be held on May 29.
The Pune and Mumbai teams committed to donating Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister's relief fund to help farmers in distress. Cricket associations said they will ensure 60 lakh litres of treated sewage water is supplied free of cost to any region selected by the government as a make-good for the water that would be used on pitches.
The court has in successive hearings
flogged both the government of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the organisers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI, for prioritising money and sport above ordinary people.
"Have five-star hotels been told to empty swimming pools?" asked Anurag Thakur, the secretary of the BCCI today before the verdict was announced.
Two IPL teams -- Mumbai Indians, Rising Pune Supergiants Squad -- had urged the court not to ban matches in Maharashtra, pointing out that they have invested nearly Rs. 30 crore for the games already. The Punjab team is treating Nagpur as an adopted home ground for three matches. Co-owner Ness Wadia had written saying "Commercial losses are irrelevant when we are faced with matters of national calamity and we are willing to abide by it and shift to Mohali."