Bengaluru Water-Crisis Might Not Affect Three IPL 2024 1st-Leg Matches: KSCA

The acute water shortage in the city might not pose any immediate threat to the three IPL first-leg matches to be played, as KSCA, the host association, is confident of meeting the demand for water from the in-house sewage treatment plant. (More Cricket News)

Bengaluru is reeling under a severe water crisis, the worst in the last four decades, and there have been calls from several quarters to shift the IPL games, beginning on March 25, out of the𓆏🔴 city.

"We are facing no crisis – at the moment that is. We have received the state government pertaining to water usage and we (the KSCA office-bearers) are in constant meetings about following the guidelines," Shubendu Ghosh, the CEO of Karnataka State Cricket Association, told PTI.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had issued a notice, barring the usage of potable water for any other purpose such as gardening or 🉐washing vehicles.

Ghosh exuded cﷺonfidence that water from the sewage treatment plant inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will suffice for purposes like watering the outfield and pitc𒐪h.

"We are already using water from the STP plant f♈or watering outfield and pi🦋tch and other in-stadium purposes. We may require 10000-15000 litres of water for match purposes, and we are certain that it can be generated from the STP plant.

"We don't need to use groundwater (for any watering purpose). Yes, we are having a closer look ꦜat the government's new policy on water usage, but we are confident of meeting all the points in t♕he order," said Ghosh.

In the first IPL match of this season, local franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Punjab Kings on Ma༒rch 25, and four days later they will face Kolkata Knཧight Riders. In the third match at home, RCB will be up against Lucknow SuperGiants on April 2.

The officials of Royal Challengers, a pioneer in green initiatives like reviving the city's lakes, 🌳also sounded confident of conducting the matches despite the water scarcity in the city.

"We are aware of the situation and are in touch with the KSCA office-bearers. But we have another two weeks in hand before the fi🌄rst match here. So, we are confi🌊dent of a smooth conduct of matches.

"The venue also complies with the norms of National Green Tribunal, so a syst🧸em is already in place to tackle such scenarios," said an official on conditions of anonymity.