Report by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) regarding use of groundwater by cricket stadiums, 17/03/2025
Report by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) in the matter of Haider Ali Vs Union of India & Others dated 17/03/2025.
The NGT vide order dated November 26, 2024 directed CGWA to compile the information with respect to 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 and status of RWHS installed in the stadiums, the environmental compensation imposed and the status of deposit of environmental compensation.
The ACA cricket stadium, Barsapara, Assam was directed by the SPCB to pay EC of Rs 11,20,230. The stadium has 5 borewells, extent of groundwater withdrawal was 54 KLD / 16590 KLY and STP installed capacity of 10 KLD. However, recycled water was not being used and 1 recharge pit was constructed.
When it comes to Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot there are 3 dugwells and 2 borewells. The extent of groundwater withdrawal is 65.20 m3 per day. However, the report said that it is practically not possible to have STP at the stadium. For a solution, the Saurashtra Cricket Association has signed an agreement with Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) to use treated water from its sewage treatment plants 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 per cent need of the water required for ground and outfield. The stadium has paid the EC of Rs 928,431.
Due to non-availability of provision of EC in State Ground Water Authority guidelines, CGWA has issued directions to SGWA under section 5 of EP Act, 1986 to impose environmental compensaton (EC) as per MoJS guidelines for illegal groundwater withdrawal by housing complexes, industrial units, commercial establishments and several other entities, till the time EC provision is being incorporated in the SGWA guidelines vide letter dated December 11, 2024.