The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's order, directing the cricket associations to shift the matches out of state to save water being used to maintain the pitches and grounds in Mumbai and Pune.

The Maharashtra and Mumbai cricket associations tried their best to convince the court to allow the matches in the state, but the apex court denied the permission, keeping in mind, the future consequences.

With the latest decision of SC, 12 matches of IPL 9, including the final on May 29th, will not held in Maharashtra.   

Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and P Chidambaram, appearing for the associations, assured the court that, they would not use drinking water and only use sewage water for maintaining the ground. They further added that, they would even contribute for the welfare of drought-hit people in the state.

Referring to the allegations of the usage of 60 lakh litres of water in six matches to be organised by the two associations, the bench questioned the advocates as to how many litres of water would be used these matches. Countering all such allegations, the associations told the court that only around 4.8 lakh litres would be needed.  

"We undertake to use only the sewage treated water made available by Royal Western India Turf Club from its treatment plant at Mahalaxmi, which otherwise would have been released into the sea. We would not use ground water," Chidambaram told the bench.

In the beginning, the bench seemed satisfied with the his argument and proposed to appoint a commission to ensure that "not a single drop of drinking water" was used for IPL matches. But, later, the apex court concluded that, the  HC order was right and approved shifting of matches out of the state.

Maharashtra is reeling under severe drought and 21 out of 36 districts, were declared affected by the calamity.

By Phani Ch