The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken note of a recent media report titled “Bengaluru stadium to receive treated water supply for IPL matches amid crisis” and has swiftly issued notices to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and other relevant authorities.
NGT Takes Action Over Water Usage Concerns at Bengaluru Stadium Amid IPL Matches
Under the stewardship of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, the NGT has initiated suo motu proceedings and included the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate of Bengaluru, and the KSCA as parties in the investigation.
In an order dated April 1, 2024, the NGT directed the BWSSB to submit a comprehensive report detailing the volume and origin of water being utilized in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, along with the quality of treated water supplied. The tribunal has expressed particular concern regarding the stadium’s reliance on groundwater.
The focus of attention lies on the imminent supply of treated water to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 matches amidst the acute water scarcity plaguing the city. As per the report, the BWSSB, responding to the KSCA’s request, has granted permission for the supply of treated water from the Cubbon Park Wastewater Treatment Plant to the stadium.
Quoting from the NGT order, it has come to light that approximately 75,000 liters of water per day will be required at the stadium during the matches. The report underscores the dire water shortage in Bengaluru, with a deficit of 500 million liters per day against the actual requirement of 2,600 MLD. Additionally, it reveals that out of 14,000 borewells in the city, 6,900 have already run dry. Despite stringent restrictions on the use of potable water for various purposes, including car washing and gardening, the tribunal has raised serious apprehensions over the significant volume of water allocated for use in the stadium during matches.
