IPL washout at Pune if MCA fails to get water

In what can have a direct impact on eight IPL matches, which are slated to be played in Pune, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday restrained the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) from seeking water from the Irrigation Department.

The court also asked the cricket body not to ask for water even from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation for the upcoming matches, till further orders.

This means, the MCA, which requires nearly 2.5 lakh litres of water for maintaining the stadium on a daily basis, would not be in a position to seek water from the authorities. The only option left for them is to obtain water from private sources.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla pulled up the MCA for seeking water from the Pavana dam by relying on an agreement signed with the Irrigation Department. The agreement signed for five years allows the MCA to get water supply to the tune of 2.5 lakh litres per day.

The judges were irked to know that even though the agreement had expired in February this year, the MCA continued to fetch water from the Pavana dam for the upkeep of its stadium. However, what invited the judges' wrath was the fact that the MCA was getting water since 2012 for its stadium, under the category of ‘industrial’ use.

What invited the judges' wrath was the fact that the MCA was getting water since 2012 for its stadium under the category of ‘industrial’ use.

This came to light when Justice Oka perused the expired agreement of the MCA and the Irrigation Department, which specifically stated that the cricket body was being provided water for ‘industrial’ purposes. However, the MCA was actually using the same water for maintaining its pitch. “We fail to understand how water can be supplied to MCA stadium for industrial purposes, as it is not even the case that they are carrying out some industrial activities in their stadiums. We believe, the MCA cannot use the water for its stadium when the agreement specifically states that the water is supplied for industrial use,” Justice Oka said. Meanwhile, the advocate for the petitioner NGO – Loksatta Movement -- submitted that the inconsistency in the agreement shows that the government has miserably failed in implementing its very own Water Policy, which prioritises the distribution of water as per its use. “The matter needs to be decided finally and so we close the petition for judgement. But till then, we would like to make it clear that the MCA cannot seek water from the PCMC or the Irrigation Department until further orders,” Justice Oka said.

Justice Oka also indicated that he may pronounce the judgement by the end of this month.