New Delhi: National Green Tribunal has issued notices to six cricket stadiums, including Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, asking them to explain why their operations should not be suspended for failing to comply with earlier directions and for not submitting required information.The action follows a recent submission by Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), which stated that despite repeated reminders, seven stadiums did not provide compliance data on utilisation of groundwater and its recharge. However, when the matter was heard on April 16, one of the seven stadiums, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, shared the information.NGT is hearing a plea filed in 2021 against the use of groundwater for the maintenance of cricket playgrounds without availing the alternative of using STP-treated water and installing rainwater harvesting systems for storing and recharging groundwater. The plea raised the issue of cricket matches organised for commercial and entertainment purposes without concern for water conservation.In an order dated April 16, the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, “The counsel for CGWA has also submitted that these stadiums have been duly sent the emails on March 27 and April 7, intimating about pendency of the matter and requiring them to submit the report.” The counsel for the applicant has submitted that all activities in these six stadiums should be completely stopped and they should not be allowed to carry out any sports activity, NGT pointed out.The stadiums are Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow and Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.In Jan, 12 cricket stadiums across the country did not share details of the same, with NGT subsequently imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 each.
