The Bombay High Court has on Wednesday said that the use of water for maintaining cricket pitches for Indian Premier League matches is a criminal waste, while questioning if people are more important than cricket matches. “People don’t get water in Marathwada for three to four days. This is a criminal waste,” said the High Court.

A division Bench headed by Justice V M Kanade were hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Loksatta Movement and others stated that, as much as 60 lakh litres of water is proposed to be used for maintaining cricket pitches in the three venues nominated for IPL 2016, in Maharashtra.

The court has also suggested the shifting of the 20 matches to be played in Maharashtra to other states should be looked into.

"How can you waste water like this? Are people more important or IPL? How can you be so careless," the court said while hearing a petition, and also, "This is criminal wastage. You know the situation in Maharashtra."

"Our sentiments are with drought-affected Marathwada. But some litres of water needed for two-three grounds will not solve the water problem. Matches will continue as per schedule," IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said.

"At such a time, we must as a collective, show a virtue called solidarity. It does not show good grace to hold the IPL which is going to guzzle 60 lakh litres of water for all the matches," Parineeta Dandekar, Associate Coordinator, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People said.

Pune and Nagpur are facing acute shortage of water, but the rain shadow region of Marathwada, is worst hit by the drought. Dam water has dipped down to just 22 percent, while in Marathwada, only four percent water remains, as seven of the 11 major dams have dried up.

By Premji