CHENNAI: Zimbabwe Women and England A women tour of India in October and December this year could see a last-minute change in the venues if an interim order of the National Green Tribunal stays effective till then. The NGT in its order dated July 2 has restrained three stadiums — Shaheed Veer Narayan International Stadium, Raipur, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur and Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai — from carrying on any further sports activity without the leave of the Tribunal till the next date of hearing. The green body has fixed August 17 as the next date of hearing.
Out of the three venues, Raipur stadium is scheduled to host three T20Is from October 16 to 20 between India women and their Zimbabwe counterparts. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host England A women, who will play three one-dayers against India A women from December 8 to 14 apart from a first-class match between the two teams December 19 and 22.
Apart from these, the long domestic 2026-27 season comprising various tournaments including Ranji Trophy will begin from August and these venues are likely to host matches given the home and away concept used for various competitions.
One of the office-bearers from Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh when queried about the order expressed his unawareness on the issue and said he will look into it. Interestingly, the reply was the same when the NGT issued notices to six venues including the Raipur facility in April. The tribunal had then asked these venues to explain why their activities should not be stopped for failing to disclose to the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) the source of water used to maintain the pitch and grounds.
Since then Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow have filed their respective replies while counsel appearing for Barabati Stadium, Cuttack has sought four weeks' time to file the reply.
In the original application, the applicant had raised the grievance against use of groundwater for maintenance of cricket playground without availing alternative of using STP (sewage treatment plant) treated water and installing rainwater harvesting system for storing and recharge of the groundwater. As many as 22 cricket stadiums were served notices. The matter then was taken up on several dates with most of the respondents filing the compliance report.
"Learned counsel appearing for CGWA submits that these three stadiums have been repeatedly served yet they have not filed the response. He has submitted that they have been sent three emails and one notice by speed post by the CGWA but they have not responded," read the order.
The NGT in the order said the three stadiums despite repeated notices didn't care to file their response. "The Tribunal is considering the environmental issue in respect of the use of groundwater and the feasibility and use of the STP treated water and recharge of groundwater to water harvesting by these stadiums. Having regard to the serious issue of water shortage in different areas of the country, we were expecting that these stadiums will duly respond to the Tribunal's notice and will take appropriate corrective measures but in-spite of repeated notices not only from the tribunal but also from the CGWA, these three stadiums have not cared to file any response and therefore in such circumstances, by way of interim direction, we restrain the following three stadiums from carrying on any further sports activity in the stadium without the leave of the Tribunal till the next date of hearing," read the order further.