PIL against IPL filed in Karnataka High Court

Bengaluru: An environmental activist here on Monday filed a PIL in the Karnataka High Court seeking a direction for water audit on Karnataka State Cricket Association stadium premises to determine the amount of usage of water on a daily basis for IPL events by BCCI and IPL chiefs.

In his petition, activist Srinivasa Sharma sought a court direction to the Chairman of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) to justify the "injudicious" allocation of water to Indian Premier League (IPL) at the cost of deprivation of water to the public at large.

Sharma also sought court direction to BCCI and KSCA chiefs to substantiate the steps taken under the imperative social responsibility to the public at large to justify the "massive waste" of city water for conducting IPL.

He said actions of BWSSB are "patently inconsistent" with the set policy and ground realities faced by the residents of Bengaluru and the vicinity.

He alleged that BCCI, IPL and KSCA chiefs are utilising their financial clout to procure and drain valuable water resources for the conduction of a purely commercial venture like IPL which derives no public benefit.

The IPL also delivers minuscule returns to the state exchequer in stark comparison to staggering profits made by BCCI and IPL and KSCA Chiefs, he claimed.

Sharma also argued that they owe public accountability as to their treatment and diligence to the environment and public welfare in the form and facet of Corporate Social Responsibility, since they net large revenues by their dominating monopoly over the "highly lucrative and vast political clout ridden sport of cricket."

He submitted that there was an "injudicious" allocation of water that denies the less fortunate their basic right to access water.