The Nationa Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Karnataka State Cricket Association and other state authorities to provide details of water used in the IPL 2024 matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium amid the Bengaluru water crisis. The governing body requested the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Karnataka Control Board (KSPCB) to reveal the information on the source of water used in the stadium by May 2.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) CEO Shubendu Ghosh was quoted as saying by Times of India, “We are studying the notice, and as such, the stadium complies with the NGT norms. So, we are confident of going ahead with the matches.” The NGT took action after several reports emerged that the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been using a treated water supply for the IPL games. The NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A. Senthil Vel then registered the case.
After a request from the KSCA, the BWSSB authorised the supply of treated water from the Cubbon Park Wastewater Treatment Plant to meet the stadium’s water needs during the IPL matches. The stadium is yet to host three matches in the IPL, which would use around 75,000 liters of water per day. The developments come after the fact that Bengaluru has been facing a water shortage for the past few months.
The city has been facing a daily deficit of 500 million litres against the requirement of 2,600 MLD. The city has around 14,000 borewells, out of which 6,900 have dried up. The Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KWSSB) then imposed restrictions on several activities including car washing, gardening, and construction.