NGT asks cricket governing associations to provide details on water usage

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the cricket governing associations to detail the usage of groundwater and treated water for the maintenance of grounds. NGT has also asked the associations to provide the details of the proportion of freshwater like water taken from municipal bodies, groundwater, and other sources to maintain the grounds.

The directions were passed on to the matter in a meeting between Justice Prakash Shrivastava, The principal bench Chairperson, Sudhir Agarwal, the Judicial Member, and A Senthil Vel, the Expert Member, on March 19. NGT has been aiming to determine the consequences of using freshwater to maintain the ground without treated sewage water or rainwater harvesting systems.

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NGT's order released the statement regarding the issue and claimed to have directed the cricket bodies to disclose the quantity of water used on a monthly and yearly basis. It claimed details on the usage of the proportion of STP-treated, freshwater used, and the use of the quantity of water had to be provided by the associations.

NGT's order for cricket associations

"We direct respondents/cricket stadiums to file additional replies within four weeks disclosing the monthly and yearly use of the quantity of water for irrigating the ground, the proportion of STP-treated, and the freshwater used for the same. The report will also disclose the bifurcation of the proportion of freshwater such as groundwater, supply from the municipality/ULB, or any other source etc.," NGT's order claimed.

Indian stadiums in Rajkot, Nagpur, Pune, Indore, and all three stadiums in Mumbai had installed RWHS for irrigation. NGT wanted to know if the boards would use freshwater even after a scarcity of fresh water for the sake of irrigation of the ground. Only Chennai and Dharamshala have an operating system on their grounds.

"Along with this report, respondents/cricket stadiums will also disclose if, despite the scarcity of fresh water, they intend to continue to use freshwater for irrigation of the grounds and the status of RWHS (rainwater harvesting systems) installed in the stadiums," NGT's order added.