NGT bars sports activities at three cricket stadiums over environmental non-compliance

Jaipur, July 10 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an interim ban on sports activities at three major cricket stadiums across the country, including Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, for failing to comply with environmental directions related to groundwater use and water conservation.

The interim order was passed by the Principal Bench of the NGT, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad, while hearing an execution application in O.A. No. 94/2021 and the connected O.A. No. 348/2024.

The Tribunal observed that despite repeated notices issued by both the NGT and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), the three stadiums failed to furnish the required information regarding groundwater extraction and compliance with environmental norms.

The stadiums are Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur; Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur; and Dr D. Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai. As an interim measure, the NGT has restrained these stadiums from conducting any sports activities without obtaining prior permission from the Tribunal until the next hearing.

The case concerns the implementation of environmental safeguards, including the use of treated sewage treatment plant (STP) water instead of groundwater for maintaining cricket grounds, installation of rainwater harvesting systems, and adherence to groundwater conservation norms.

The Tribunal noted that, given the increasing water scarcity in several parts of the country, all stadiums were expected to comply with environmental regulations.

However, the three stadiums failed to respond despite multiple notices from both the NGT and the CGWA.

The NGT has also directed the Central Ground Water Authority to prepare a fresh tabulated compliance report based on the responses received from the concerned stadiums. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 17, 2026.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, is a specialised judicial body that hears cases relating to environmental protection, forest conservation, pollution and natural resources, with the mandate to ensure the effective and expeditious disposal of environmental disputes.

–IANS

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