Amid IPL Season, NGT Issues Notices to Six Cricket Stadiums, Asks Them Why Activities Shouldn't be Stopped

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to six cricket stadiums across the country and asked them why activities at their venues should not be stopped, given the fact that they have failed to disclose the source of water used to maintain pitch and grounds, reported New Indian Express.

The NGT issued the notices while hearing a plea against the use of groundwater or fresh water to maintain cricket grounds instead of the sewage treatment plant (STP)-treated water. The plea also claims that rainwater harvesting systems for groundwater storage, discharge and restoration have not been installed.

The six stadiums who were served the notices by the NGT include the Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium (Raipur), Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur), Dr DY Patil Stadium (Mumbai), Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium (Lucknow) and Barabati Stadium (Cuttack).

Of these four stadiums, the stadiums in Delhi, Raipur, Jaipur and Lucknow are presently hosting IPL matches.

DDCA had received a notice from Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) in the year 2024 regarding use of ground water at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. We carried out all the compliances as required under the guidance of CGWA," RR Singh, DDCA's spokesperson, told New Indian Express.

Singh added that the DDCA will take all necessary steps to comply with all instructions issued in this regard.

"We have carried out all the compliances and have complied with the directions issued by the Tribunal from time to time. Unfortunately, we were not aware about the matter being taken up on 16.4.26 and therefore could not appraise the Hon’ble Tribunal about it. We are taking necessary steps to bring the correct position on judicial record," said Singh.

The NGT bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members A. Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad said in an April 16 order that seven stadiums initially failed to submit their replies despite repeated directions.

"Learned Counsel appearing for Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad has submitted that he has received the instructions today and the reply along with all the details will be submitted within three weeks. Learned Counsel for the Applicant has advanced the submission that the remaining six stadiums have not filed their response till now nor they are appearing before the Tribunal or responding to the repeated orders of the Tribunal. He has submitted that these stadiums are duly served," said the order issued on April 16.

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