National Green Tribunal
Haider Ali vs Union Of India on 19 March, 2025
Item Nos. 13 to 15 Court No. 1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Execution Application No.41/2023
In
Original Application No.94/2021
With
M.A. No. 48/2024
In
Original Application No.94/2021
Haider Ali Applicant
Versus
Union of India & Ors. Respondent(s)
With
Original Application No.348/2024
News Item titled "Bengaluru stadium to get treated water supply for IPL
matches amid crisis" appearing in India Today dated 21.03.2024
Date of hearing: 19.03.2025
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
Applicant: Mr. Ali Md. Maaz & Ms. Ayushi Agarwal, Advs. for Applicant in E.A
41/2023 & M.A 48/2024
Respondent: Mr. Abhinav Mukerji, Senior Advocate with Ms. Bihu Sharma, Advs. for
BCCI (Through VC)
Mr. Samrat Sen, Senior Advocate with Ms. Manali Ali, Mr. Paritosh Sinha,
Mr. Amitava Mitra & Ms. Priyata Chakraborty, Advs. for R - 5 & 12
(Through VC)
Mr. Sanjay Upadhyay, Senior Advocate with Ms. Mansi Bachani & Mr.
Surya Gupta, Advs. for R - 27
Mr. Gigi. C. George, Adv. for CGWA
Mr. Azim H. Laskar & Mr. Kishor Dutta, Advs. for R - 8
Ms. Ritika Jhurani, Advs. for R - 9, 17 & 26 (Through VC)
Mr. Kunal Mimani, Mr. Kartikey Bhatt, Mr. Abhinav Rana & Ms. Deepti
Karadkar, Advs. for R - 19
Mr. Aditya Verma, Mr. Samar Singh, Mr. K. Rigved Prasad, Adv. for R - 23
Mr. Prashant Mishra, Adv. for R - 25 (Through VC)
Mr. Prashant Manchanda, Adv. for Punjab Cricket Association
Mr. Piyush Dwivedi, Adv.for Hyderabad Cricket Association
` Mr. Pradeep Misra & Mr. Daleep Dhyani, Adv. for UPPCB (Through VC)
Mr. Darpan K.M & Mr. Rajat Jonathan Shaw, Advs. for the State of
Karnataka in OA 348/20204 (Through VC)
Mr. Balaji Srinivasan & Mr. Aditya Nath, Advs. for R - 4 in OA 348/20204
1
ORDER
1. Tribunal in this original application is examining the issue of use of ground/fresh water for irrigating/maintaining the cricket play grounds without resorting to the use of STP treated water.
2. Tribunal by order dated 26.11.2024 had directed the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to compile the information disclosed in the response of the respondents-Cricket Stadiums and tabulate it specifically including the status of borewells, extent of groundwater drawal, permission for the borewell, status of use of STP treated water, status of Rain Water Harvesting System (RWHS) installed in the stadiums and the Environmental Compensation (EC) imposed.
3. CGWA has filed the report dated 17.03.2025 and has disclosed the status in the tabulated form as under:
"Status of stadiums located in CGWA regulated States/UTs as per reply filed before Hon'ble NGT/Information provided to CGWA:
Sr Name of Status of Extent of GW Permission Status of use of STP Status of EC Status of . Stadium Borewell withdrawal for Borewell treated water RWIHS deposit of No (Quantum) installed in imposed EC the by the Stadium Board 1 5 Borewell 54KLD/16590 NOC STP Installed Implemente Rs. Rs. 1120230/ ACA KLY as NOC Avg. obtained (capacity 10 KLD) d 1 no. of 1120230/.
cricket 69 KLD as per (NOC NO: Recycled water not recharge pit Stadium, Telemetry data CGWA/NO being used. constructed Barsapar C/1 a Assam NF/ORIG/2 024/20129) 2 2 Saurashtr 3DW 65.20M3 per day Yes It is practically not Yes Rs.92843 Rs.928431/ a Cricket 2 BW CGWA/NO possible to have Associati C/A Sewage Treatment 1/- - on NF/ORIG/2 Plant (STP) at the Stadium, 024 /19777 Stadium.
Rajkot (30.11.2023
to Saurashtra Cricket
29.11.2028) Association has
signed an agreement
with Rajkot Municipal
Corporation (RMC) to
use treated water
from its sewage
treatment plants
(STPs) to maintain
Niranjan Shah
Stadium. As per the
MOU, RMC has
agreed to provide the
stadium about 1 lakh
liter as per
requirement of treated
water per day which
will be sufficient to
meet about 80% need
of the water required
for ground and
outfield
3 Saheed 06 no. of 50 kid of GW NOC has STP has not been RWH EC EC charges
Veer BWs have withdrawal as not installed yet within structures imposed not received
Narayan been per the been the stadium. have not EC
Singh Int. constructed inspection done applied in However, a sanction been charges
Stadium, in the by CGWA in the CGWA till order of Rs. 121.24 constructed of
Raipur stadium. stadium. date. There lakhs has been given yet within Rs.3,66,0
have been to PWD for the 00/-
meetings installation of STP stadium. A (24.09,20
with the and construction of sanction 20 to
District RWH structures order of Rs. 23.12.20
Collector, within the stadium 121.24 24)
Raipur premises. lakhs has Actual EC
regarding been given charges
the to PWD for will be
compliance installation calculate
conditions of STP and d during
to be construction processin
followed by of RWH g of NOC
the stadium structures
The DC, within the
Raipur has stadium
directed the premises.
matter to
Director,
Sports
Authority,
Chhattisgar
h state and
PWD,
Chhattisgar
h for
application
of NOC from
CGWA at
3
the earliest.
4 VCA 1Dugwell, 33 m3 per day CGWA/NO 2 STP of 10 KLD Yes, NA NA
Stadium, 1 BW C/INF/ORI capacity installed. installed.
Civil G/2021/
Lines, 13898
Nagpur
5 MCA As per NA NA Not installed Yes, NA NA
Cricket inspection installed.
Stadium, report, No
Gahunje, abstraction
Pune structures
found
6 Sawai 1 TW 22.5 KLD as Not applied Not known Not known Rs. Yes Rs.
Mansingh reported during for NOC 819485 819485 (till
Stadium, inspection (till 01.11.2023)
Jaipur 01.11.20 deposited
23)
7 Holkar 4BW active Approved- NOC STP is not feasible in RWIH has Rs. 16,04,795/-
Stadium and IBW 8100m cube per granted our stadium owing to been 16,04,79 on
(Indore, dead year NOC No. very less quantum of operational 5/- 14.2.2024.
MP) 20396, sewer generation. The since the In addition
dated 6 sewage is disposed developmen to the above
Nov. 2024 off through the sewer t of the EC, a
system of Indore stadium penalty of
Municipal Corporation and the Rs.
RWIH is 1,00,000/-
working is paid on
well with 7.6.2024 for
proper late
maintenanc submission
e. for NOC
8 DR. DY As per NA NA Not installed Yes, NA NA
Patil Inspection Installed
Stadium, report, No
Mumbai abstraction
structures
found
9 Brabourn CCI does CCI sources in view of CCI had appointed Yes, Revised Not received
e Cricket not have 190KLD of water the CCI's consultants for Installed EC
Stadium any ground through MCGM usage of providing the Charges
(CCI) water and H.H ground necessary design and of Rs
abstraction Roadlines & water being feasibility reports for 1880820
structures Water Suppliers. less than installing STP and /-as per
The 5m3 per RWH systems. the
borewell day for inspection
excavated "drinking/ report
by CCI domestic and
[pursuant purposes further
to the CGWA hat calculatio
permission granted an n
granted by Exemption communic
MCGM on Certificate ated to
03.11.2018 under the CCI.
] for Clause (vi) After this
watering of the 2000 CCI again
the plants Guidelines, requested
in the exempting for copy
nursery CCI from of
was the from inspection
voluntarily requirement report
sealed by of obtaining which
CCI in July, an NOC provided
2023 due to PP on
to high 24.02.20
salinity in 25
the
extracted
water, CCI
is not
extracting
any ground
water
whatsoever
10 Wankhed As per Not required Installed Installed NA NA
e Inspection
Stadium, report, No
Mumbai abstraction
structures
found
4
11 Barabati 4 numbers 60.54 m3/day Yes Not Installed Not 1283145 1283145
Cricket of TWs (22097.10cum/y Installed
Stadium, ear)
Cuttak,
Odisah
Status of stadiums located in SGWA regulated States/UTs as per reply filed before Hon'ble NGT/Information provided to CGWA:
Sr Name of Status of Extent of GW Permissi Status of use of STP Status of EC Status of . Stadium Borewell withdrawal on for treated water RWIHS deposit of No (Quantum) Borewel installed in imposed EC l the by the Stadium Board 1 Dr. Y.S. Existing 2 The number of Constructed The -
Rajasekh Bore wells international matches 1 Rain pollution ara and conducted at the Water Reddy working in Answering respondent's Harvesting control ACA- Good No (Not stadium are very limited Pit and it is 50 KLD board VDCA Condition taken and at an average of 11 not Cricket any days in a year. maintaining has Stadium, permissi Sewarage/effluent properly informed Vizag on generated during match from days is also very less that there SGWA and negligible for the rest is no of the days. The same would not warrant need for installation and operation EC of an STP. In view of the same, the answering respondent, by way of latter dated 08.09.2023 requested the commissioner of the Greater Vishakhapatnam Municipal Corporation for providing the treated water connection capable of Supplying 50,000 lit per day.
2 Eden 5 TW 40KLD(8m3/ Yes Reminder letter issued to Reminder Not Not
Garden, hr for daily the Hony Secretary, letter issued
applicabl applicable
Kolkata 5hrs) Cricket Association of to the
Benal, Dr. B.C. Roy Club Honorary e (as per (as per
75 KLD House, Eden Gardens Secretary,
WBGWR WBGWR
(15m3/hr for Stadium, Kolkata for the The cricket
daily 5hrs) status report of Association Act, 2005 Act, 2005
installation of STP of Bengal,
and and
90 facilities but till date Dr. B. C.
KLD(18m3/hr undersigned Roy Club concerne concerned
for daily 5hrs (Superintending House,
d rules rules 2006)
Geologist) has yet not Eden
60 KLD received any status Gardens 2006)
(12m3/hr for report. At the time of re- Stadium,
inspection the concern Kolkata for
5
Daily 5 hrs) person from the CAB the status
informed vervally that the report of
125KLD status of STP work is installation
(25m/hrfor under process. of RWH
daily 5 hrs) facilities but
till date
undersigne
d has not
received
any status
report. At
the time of
re-
inspection
the concern
person from
the CAB
informed
verbally
that the
status of
RWH work
is Under
3 Arun Permission To measure the Permissi STP installed. Treated Yes, No NA
Jailley of Two (2) quantum of on water is being used for
Stadium, Tubewells ground water issued maintenance of Cricket 17 RWH
Delhi issued on withdrawal by by Ground structures
03/06/202 flow meter is SGWA have been
4 by SG being purchased constructed
WA. and fixed in a in the
week's time. premises.
Once it is
installed adject
quantum will be
conveyed to the
authority.
4 Green 3 30 KLD On Proposed Proposed No No
Park Going
Stadium, since
Kanpur 30.07
.2024
5 Atal 1 48 KLD Yes STP in place but not being Yes Nil Nil
Bhihari operated. However,
Bajpayee project proponent has
Stadium, Informed that 0 & M is to
Lucknow be done by L DA and
they have requested LDA
in this regard.
6 MA Nil Ground water NA Sewage Treated Water of Rain Water Nil Nil
Chidamb drawal Nil- 60 KLD utilized for Harvesting
aram Water supply maintenance of Cricket
Stadium, Source- Ground & Greenbelt Sump - 909
Chennai CMWSSB non KL
event Days 71.3
KLD (9.95 KLD 81 KL - 3
Domestic Nos.
Swimming pool-
1.50 KLD, 12 KI - 1
Greenbelt-59.80 No.
KLD). Event
Days-414 KLD 129 KL - I
(321.25 KLD No.
Domestic, Floor
Washing 31.15 210 KL- 2
KLD, swimming Nos.
pool-1.5 KLD
Greebelt-59.80 105 KL - 1
KLD) No.
Open Well
315 KL
Open well 1
- 95 KL
Open well 2
6
- 220 KL
7 Rajeev 2 181 KLD Permissi Nil One Yes Yes
Gandhi on recharge pit
Internatio issued
nal by
Stadium, SGWA
Hyderaba
d
8 Sports Hub I 11,000 LPD SGWA STP implemented at An MOU was - -
Internation NOC stadium signed on
al Cricket received 01.10.2024
Stadium, with the
Trivandru Kerala Rural
m Water Supply
and
sanitation
agency
(jalanidhi) for
the
installation of
a rainwater
harvesting
system
source
development
by
constructing
dyke,
reservoir, etc
and
improvement
of water
supply
system has
been
submitted by
the agency,
and the
process to
initiate tender
proceedings
is underway.
9 Himachal 2 9,73,334 liters Under NA ' Yes, rain NA NA
Pradesh per annum harvesting
Cricket (Irrigation of the applicati tanks having
Associati ground is being on to the capacity of
on done 3 days in Govt. of 2,30,000 liters
Stadium, a week). Each HP have been
Dharams requites installed and
ala 8,000 liters are in
of water operation.
10 Chaudha During the 2000L of NOC to Installed Respondent
ry Banal time of groundwater for the has
Lal acquisition mega sport Haryan commenced
Cricket of land for events and 500L a Water the process
Stadium the of groundwater Resourc for the
constructio for other days on es establishme
n of the average. Authorit nt of an
Chaudhary y on STP.
Bansi Lal 06.07.2
Cricket 023 for
Stadium the
i.e. 2006, Chaudh
two ary
borewells Bansi
were Lill
already in Cricket
existence. Stadium
and the
same is
under
consider
ation by
HWRA.
11 IS 02 3000m3 per day Yes, The Punjab Cricket The Punjab - -
Bandra Borewells NOC Association has Cricket
Cricket valid requested the Soil Association
Stadium, upto Conservation has already
Mohali 27.06.2 Department regarding completed 2
007 setup & feasibility Nos Bore
check of the STP inside wells for
the Stadium premises Rain Water
at PCA, Mohali. The Harvesting
7
technical officers from in PCA
the Soil Department of Stadium,
Punjab had visited the Mohali. As
site on 21.08.2023 to per the
check the feasibility of work order
the Sewerage M/s. M S
Treatment Plant. The Constructio
PCA is awaiting the ns has to
formal plan in this complete
regard from the the works
department. by
08.10.2023
It is pertinent to inform (copy
that Punjab Cricket enclosed).
Association is in the
process of completing its new stadium at Mullanpur (Punjab) wherein the Rain water Harvesting System as well as STP Plant are already in place."
"
4. Submission of Counsel for the applicant is that if the cricket stadiums are granted NOC for drawal of ground water then same will be used for irrigating the cricket ground and will defeat the very purpose of filing the original application. He submits that in fact STP treated water should be used for irrigating the grounds to avoid the use of fresh water for that purpose.
5. Full details relating to use of STP treated water or fresh water by all the respondents have not come on record, therefore, we direct respondents/cricket stadiums to file additional reply within four weeks disclosing the monthly and yearly use of quantity of water for irrigating the ground, proportion of STP treated and fresh water used for the same.
Report will also disclose bifurcation of proportion of fresh water such as ground water, supply from the municipality/ULB or any other source etc. Along with this report, respondents/cricket stadiums will also disclose if despite the scarcity of fresh water they intend to continue to use fresh water for irrigation of the grounds and the status of RWHS installed in the stadiums.
6. So far as M.A. No.48/2024 is concerned, it was an interim application for staying the operation of IPL starting from 08.04.2024 and 8 ending on 26.05.2024. With the afflux of time, nothing survives in this MA, which is accordingly dismissed as infructuous
7. List on 17.07.2025.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP Sudhir Agarwal, JM Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM March 19, 2025 Execution Application No.41/2023, M.A. No. 48/2024 & Original Application No.348/2024 JG..
9