NEW DELHI: A Jal Shakti ministry report has stated that of 26 stadiums throughout the nation that had been inspected, 20 of them, together with Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, had been discovered extracting groundwater utilizing tube wells or borewells for watering the stadiums which is towards the principles.

The report, submitted to the National Green Tribunal, stated that showcause notices had been despatched to those 20 stadium authorities for unlawful groundwater extraction. They have been requested to adjust to guidelines, together with the set up of rainwater techniques and use of water handled in sewage remedy crops.

Of the 26 stadiums, 22 have additionally been informed to adjust to all norms set for water utilization in three months. Among the names had been huge cricket venues such because the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai; MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The report stated it was discovered that “24 out of 26 stadiums have borewell/tube well for extraction of groundwater, out of which only four stadiums had groundwater no-objection certificates”.
It added that 14 stadiums have rainwater harvesting buildings and in three others such services are being put in. Six services have sewage remedy crops. In one different stadium, it’s underneath set up, the report stated.
The inspections had been performed by a crew from the Central Groundwater Authority and state authorities.
The report stated that the ministry despatched showcause notices to the 20 stadiums on June 27, asking the authorities to elucidate why the NoC for groundwater extraction was not sought from the Central Groundwater Authority or State Groundwater Authority and why appropriate penalty or environmental compensation shouldn’t be imposed for unlawful withdrawal of groundwater.
A plea had been filed earlier than the NGT towards using groundwater for upkeep of cricket grounds with out utilizing STP-treated water and with out putting in rainwater harvesting techniques for storing and recharging groundwater. The plea raised the problem of cricket matches organised for industrial and leisure functions with out concern for water conservation.
After the NGT sought a report on the matter, the Central Ground Water Authority issued a public discover in June 2021 directing that each one stadiums, cricket grounds, courts, fields, golf programs and complexes owned by Sports Authority of India/BCCI/state cricket associations will set up rainwater harvesting buildings. The stadiums had been later additionally requested to make use of handled water or set up STPs.
The Jal Shakti ministry notified this yr that each one stadiums, cricket grounds, and different sports activities grounds/courts, golf programs ought to set up rainwater harvesting.
During a assessment assembly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated in April that the BCCI doesn’t personal any stadium. “The BCCI doesn’t have management over the engagement of environmental consultants and neither on the supply of water provide in any of the stadiums. It added that BCCI is an affiliation of associations and the stadiums/cricket grounds are both owned or on lease with state cricket associations.
In one other assembly in July, the ministry was knowledgeable that 4 stadiums – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru; VCA Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur; Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, and JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, had totally complied with the norms on groundwater.