Achi news desk-
Cricket stadium
– Photo: Amar Ojala (file)
expansion
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a tough stance on wastage of groundwater for the maintenance of stadiums during cricket matches. A final warning has been issued to the 22 stadiums in the country and the BCCI that only treated water (STP) should be used. NGT has already directed the Union Ministry Jel Shakti to frame a policy on the matter.
The order by NGT Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava, Associate Justice Sudhir Aggarwal and Dr A Senthil Vel said, the fact has been brought to light that cricket stadiums are indiscriminately using ground water without obtaining an NOC. A rainwater collection system was also not installed in the stadium. Because of this, even rainwater is not used to recharge the groundwater. Even the use of treated water from STP is not done. Only nine out of 22 stadiums have submitted responses so far.
Will have to answer within three weeks
NGT has given a last chance to all the stadiums to reply in three weeks. A stadium manager told the NGT that his NOC application has been pending for nine months. In this matter, NGT said, the work is for the state and the Central Groundwater Authority. The authorities must dispose of the pending applications. Its report will also have to be given to the NGT. The next hearing will be on August 13.
80 thousand liters of water is wasted every day in Bangalore
Amidst the water crisis, about 80 thousand liters of water is spent every day in the maintenance of the Bangalore stadium. The Bangalore Water Supply Board’s report states that 64,000 liters of treated water was also used.
