The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report titled “Bengaluru stadium to get treated water supply for IPL matches amid crisis,” and issued notices to various authorities, including the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
The Tribunal also impleaded the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board through its Chairman, Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Bengaluru and Karnataka State Cricket Association through its Secretary as a party in the mattet and sought their responses.
The bench of the NGT, headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, in an order passed on April 1, 2024, directed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to file a detailed report disclosing complete details of the quantity and source of water being used in the concerned stadium and also the quality of treated water supplied.
It has been pointed out that the stadium in question is also using groundwater.
Tribunal noted that the news item relates to the supply of treated water to M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 matches amid the water crisis.
The news item reveals that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), upon the request of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), has permitted supply of treated water to the Stadium from the Cubbon Park Wastewater Treatment Plant.
According to the report, the BWSSB, at the request of the KSCA, has allowed the supply of treated water from the Cubbon Park Wastewater Treatment Plant to the stadium. Approximately 75,000 liters of water are required per day at the stadium during matches.
The report also underscores the severe water scarcity in Bengaluru, with a shortage of 500 million liters of water per day against the actual requirement of 2,600 MLD. Out of 14,000 borewells in the city, 6,900 have dried up, and the KWSSB has imposed restrictions on the use of drinking water for various purposes. However, it has permitted the use of a significant amount of water in the stadium for holding matches, as stated in the NGT’s order.
