The Bombay High Court, which is hearing a PIL against the hosting of IPL matches in Maharashtra, on Tuesday asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider shifting the matches out of state, while seeking reply from the board by next hearing on Wednesday.
The High Court also asked the BCCI if they could provide 40 lakh litres of water that they had used earlier to the drought-affected areas.
The BCCI, however, insisted before the court that they would use recycled sewage water for maintaining pitches for the 17 IPL matches to be held in Mumbai and Pune.
According to the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) lawyer, the treated sewage water will be supplied by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITF), which will in turn be helpful in tackling water crisis without using potable water.
In a bid to justify his stance, BCCI lawyer Rafiq Dada brought in the court half a litre water sample being used for maintaining pitches. He said it was murky and also unfit for drinking to show that the board are using sewage water.
Reacting to the BCCI's proposal, the High Court asked the RWITF to submit a report in written if they were willing to provide sewage treated water for the IPL.
Meanwhile, the petitioner's lawyer slammed MCA, saying that they had entered into the agreement with RWITC for water only after the petition and court's intervention.
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The BCCI is also said to have told the court that franchise Kings XI Punjab is planning to shift all its three matches out of Nagpur to Mohali.
A PIL was filed in the High Court stating that about 66 lakh litres of water was spent on maintaining pitches at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai and Sahara stadium in Pune during the 2013 edition of IPL.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court had given green signal for the opening match of the ninth season between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, saying the public interest litigation was filed too late and the organisers have already made the necessary arrangements.