Home / Environment / NGT Halts Sports at 3 Stadiums for Groundwater Violations
NGT Halts Sports at 3 Stadiums for Groundwater Violations
11 Jul
Summary
- Three major cricket stadiums are banned from activities by the NGT.
- The ban is due to non-compliance with environmental directions on groundwater.
- The restriction remains until the tribunal's next hearing.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued an interim order prohibiting three prominent cricket stadiums from hosting any sports activities without prior permission. The affected stadiums include Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Stadium in Jaipur, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, and Dr D Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai. This restriction, effective from Friday, will persist until the NGT's next hearing.
The NGT's Principal Bench noted that the authorities of these stadiums had failed to provide necessary information concerning groundwater extraction and compliance with previous environmental directives, despite repeated notices from the tribunal and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
The tribunal's directives aimed at reducing groundwater extraction for maintaining cricket grounds included mandating the use of treated sewage treatment plant (STP) water for turf irrigation and the installation of rainwater harvesting systems.
Given the increasing water scarcity in many parts of the country, the NGT stressed the expectation of full cooperation from all stadiums with environmental regulations. The CGWA has been authorized to prepare a fresh tabulated compliance report based on the stadiums' responses.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 17.
