Protests against IPL in Chennai over water woes
We are not against IPL matches, but the organisers should understand the problems of the people and act accordingly. STALIN, DMK leader
CHENNAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) was in the news again for water-related issues after political parties in Tamil Nadu opposed their staging in Chennai at a time when farmers are reeling from water shortage in the state, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) assured the Bombay high court that it wouldn’t give the Wankhede cricket ground more water than it usually does for the matches.
In Tamil Nadu, the protests have also been motivated by the Centre’s delay in setting up a board to share Cauvery water between the state and Karnataka in keeping with a February order of the Supreme Court.
In Bombay, acting on a public interest litigation, the high court had on Tuesday directed the civic body to disclose if it intended to continue with its policy of not providing special water supply to Wankhede Stadium for cricket matches. The corporation’s assurance that it would came on Friday.
Chennai will be hosting IPL matches after a hiatus of two years caused by home team Chennai Super Kings’ suspension over a spot-fixing controversy.
On Friday, about 10,000 fans crowded the Chepauk stadium to watch home team captain MS Dhoni and his men train for their game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 10.
IPL kicks off with a match between CSK and Mumbai Indians on 7 April at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The Centre on March 31 filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of three months for implementing the apex court’s February 16 order on sharing of Cauvery river water, citing its impact on assembly elections in Karnataka in May.
MK Stalin, working president of the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), asked IPL organisers to take an “appropriate decision” after considering the plight of Tamil Nadu ‘s farmers and how the Union government “was playing politics over Cauvery”. “We are not against IPL matches, but the organisers should understand the problems of the people and act accordingly,” Stalin added.
TTV Dhinakaran, leader of the rebel faction of Tamil Nadu’s ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhaham (AIADMK), appealed to the people to boycott IPL matches in Chennai to put pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-led Union government to constitute the Cauvery board. “It is clear that the BJP government is disregarding the plight of Tamil Nadu,” Dhinakaran said, appealing to the people who booked seats for IPL matches to return their tickets in support of the farmers.
According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official, who didn’t want to be named, there is no change in the IPL schedule in Chennai.
State fisheries minister D Jayakumar told reporters that the Tamil Nadu government will to provide security for league matches scheduled in Chennai if IPL authorities request it.