SC rap for Mumbai cricket body over watering pitches for IPL

Three days before the Indian Premier League kicks off, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for the many litres of water that it will use to prepare pitches for the world's richest cricket tournament.

As many as 19 IPL matches are scheduled to be played in the state, many parts of which is reeling under drought.It is estimated that the matches played in Maharashtra would require 70 lakh litres of water.

The court, while suggesting that all these matches be shifted out of the state, asked the MCA whether an IPL match was more important for them than human lives.

The MCA has argued that it purchases water for its use and also that this water is non-potable or water you cannot drink. To this, the court said that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would understand the value of water only once the water supply to BCCI is snapped.When asked to reveal the source of water, the MCA wasn't forthcoming, said Ankita Verma, the petitioner's lawyer, in an interview to CNN-IBN.

Whatever water they are using, it is a natural resource, which is getting depleted...it has to be conserved..

It also ordered the state government to act against the wastage of water and inform it of steps it plans to take in that regard. The court will continue hearing on the petition against the watering of cricket pitches on Thursday.