IPL Water Crisis: Mumbai, Pune willing to give Rs 5 crore each towards CM’s drought relief fund

Wankhede Stadium.

During the hearing of a PIL against holding IPL matches in drought-hit Maharashtra, the court had asked two questions to the cash-rich cricketing body BCCI last evening.
The first was how much money the board can donate to the Chief Minister’s fund for drought affected areas, while the second was it could provide 40 lakh litre water which it has already used to maintain the ground and pitches of the affected drought areas.
Also, the court had asked BCCI to consider shifting some of the matches out of Maharashtra.
Replying to the question, the BCCI today informed the court that IPL teams from the state – Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants – are willing to give Rs 5 crore each towards the CM’s drought relief fund and supply 40 lakh litres to the drought-hit Marathwada region of the state.

Responding to the suggestion about shifting some of the matches out of the state, the BCCI, through its lawyer, told court that Latur won’t get water even if it shifts the matches out of Maharashtra.

A total of nine matches have been planned in Pune and eight in Mumbai, where the opening match was held on April 9 at Wankhede stadium.
Three matches are slated to be held in Nagpur, and IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab has agreed to shift them to Mohali or elsewhere if the HC tells it.
The PIL, filed by NGO Loksatta Movement, has challenged the use of nearly 60 lakh litres of water to maintain pitches at the three stadiums in state that has several areas suffering from severe drought.