IPL ordered to relocate drought-hit Maharashtra matches

ThirteenIndian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches due to be played in the state ofMaharashtra next month must be relocated because of a severe drought, a courtin the western state has ruled.The HighCourt in Mumbai dismissed arguments that treated sewage could be used toprepare pitches.In parts ofthe state, water shortages are so acute that hospitals are being forced tocancel operations.The rulingcasts uncertainty over the latter part of the IPL tournament.The finalwas due to have been played in the state capital Mumbai on 29 May.The IPLattracts some of the world's top players and is one of the richest cricketleagues in the world. The Twenty20 matches are played annually in India andbegan on Saturday.Parts ofMaharashtra are enduring one of its worst droughts in 100 years.Earlier theHigh Court criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India along with thestate government for not giving priority to ordinary people amid the growingdemands for water.

The court onWednesday ordered the games to be relocated despite promises made by the theMumbai and Pune IPL teams to donate a substantial amount towards drought-reliefmeasures.Eight teamsare participating in this year's tournament, with one report estimating thatsix million litres of water are needed for the upkeep of pitches in Maharashtra- in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

The drought is taking place as a heatwave extends across much of northern India with temperatures exceeding 40C forseveral days in a row.There is growing public concern overthe lack of water in many parts of the state following two successive years ofdrought and crop failures.In an unprecedented move earlier thisweek, a train carrying half a million litres of drinking water was sent to theworst affected area.