The environmental body had previously asked multiple cricket stadiums to provide this information to the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), which is compiling the data submitted by them.
Previously, the NGT addressed a petition concerning the use of groundwater or fresh water for maintaining cricket grounds instead of utilizing water treated by sewage treatment plants (STP), as well as the absence of rainwater harvesting systems for groundwater storage, discharge, and restoration.
A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, noted in an order dated April 16 that seven stadiums initially neglected to submit their responses despite repeated reminders.
During the proceedings, counsel for the Hyderabad stadium requested a three-week extension to comply, while the other six did not appear or provide any response.
The six stadiums involved are the Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium (Raipur), Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur), Dr D Y Patil Stadium (Mumbai), Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium (Lucknow), and Barabati Stadium (Cuttack).
“Consequently, notices have been issued to the six stadiums to clarify why all their activities should not be halted due to non-compliance with the tribunal’s order and failure to submit the required information,” the bench remarked.
The tribunal has instructed the CGWA to relay the order to these stadiums. Further proceedings have been scheduled for July 2.
