The Bombay High Court has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to shift Indian Premier League matches from drought-hit Maharashtra.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought a direction to the IPL chairman to pay tax on usage of water, claiming that about 60,000 litres of water would be needed every day to maintain the pitches.
On Wednesday, the court said water should be conserved and not wasted for IPL matches. "How can you waste water like this? Are people more important or IPL? How can you be so careless," the court said.
The association argued that it purchases water for its use and also that this water is non-potable or water you cannot drink.
"Only if water supply to BCCI is cut will you understand," said the High Court, suggesting that IPL matches be shifted to other states which do not face a shortage of water.
The tournament is scheduled to start on Saturday (April 9) with defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on debutants Rising Pune Supergiants at Wankhede Stadium.
Three Maharashtra cities - Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - are scheduled to host IPL matches.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday ruled out shifting matches out of Maharashtra.
"As far as the question of drought, water is concerned, we are with the farmers of Maharashtra, we are ready to help in all possible ways," Shukla said.
