IPL 2024: How M Chinnaswamy Stadium plans to tackle water crisis in Bengaluru during matches

Bengaluru is going through an acute water shortage but Karnataka State Cricket Association is confident that it will not face any such issues during the IPL 2024 matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city. As per the first phase of the IPL 2024 schedule , three matches are already planned in Bengaluru – Royal Challengers Bangalore face Punjab Kings on March 25 followed by a game against Kolkata Knight Riders four days later. RCB will be up against Lucknow Super Giants on 2 April in their third game at home.

With Bengaluru facing severe water crisis, the worst in the last four decades, there have been demands to shift IPL away from the city

KSCA, however, are confident that they will not be required to do anything like that.

“We are facing no crisis – at the moment that is. We have received the state government notice 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 added that water from the sewage treatment plant inside the Stadium will suffice for purposes like watering the outfield and pitch.

“We are already using water from the STP plant for watering outfield and pitch and other in-stadium purposes. We may require 10,000-15,000 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 at the government’s new policy on water usage, but we are confident of meeting all the points in the order,” said Ghosh.

The officials of Royal Challengers, a pioneer in green initiatives like reviving the city’s lakes, also sound 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 first match here. So, we are confident of a smooth conduct of matches. The venue also complies with the norms of National Green Tribunal, so a system is already in place to tackle such scenarios,” said an official on conditions of anonymity.

With PTI inputs