NGT issues stadium notices

India’s green court has told six cricket stadiums to explain why their activities should not be stopped over missing water-use disclosures during the Indian Premier League season. (indianexpress.com) The National Green Tribunal’s principal bench passed the order on April 16, 2026, while hearing an execution case tied to its earlier directions on groundwater extraction, treated wastewater use and rainwater harvesting at cricket grounds. The next hearing is set for July 2. (hindustantimes.com) The six venues named are Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow and Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. A separate report said Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was also among the venues under scrutiny in the same proceedings. (hindustantimes.com) (indianexpress.com) The case turns on a basic water question: whether stadiums are using groundwater or fresh water to keep pitches and outfields green when sewage-treatment-plant water could be used instead. The Tribunal has also pressed venues on rainwater harvesting systems that can capture and recharge water on site. (newindianexpress.com) (hindustantimes.com) This fight did not start with IPL 2026. In an April 15, 2024 order, the Tribunal refused to halt that season’s matches, but it repeated that the applicant had accused stadiums of using groundwater despite a 2021 order that said venues should avoid it for routine maintenance and explore treated water instead. (indiankanoon.org) By January 22, 2026, the Central Ground Water Authority had filed a compilation covering 10 stadiums, listing monthly and yearly irrigation demand, the share of sewage-treatment-plant water, the share of fresh water and the status of rainwater-harvesting systems. That filing became the basis for the Tribunal’s latest compliance review. (indiankanoon.org) The Tribunal said seven stadiums had initially failed to reply despite repeated directions. During the April 16 proceedings, the Hyderabad venue sought three weeks to comply, while the other six either did not appear or did not file responses, according to the order cited by PTI. (hindustantimes.com) The IPL schedule itself has not been paused. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on March 26 that the second phase of IPL 2026 would run from April 13 to May 24 across 12 venues, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur and Raipur. (iplt20.com) Some venue operators say they have already complied. Delhi and District Cricket Association spokesperson R.R. Singh said the Arun Jaitley Stadium had submitted a report in March 2025, had two sewage treatment plants and 17 rainwater-harvesting pits, and would place the “correct position” on the judicial record. (newindianexpress.com) So the immediate question is not whether tonight’s match goes ahead, but whether stadiums can document where their water comes from and how much they use. By July 2, the case should show which venues can prove compliance and which still face the threat of stoppage orders. (hindustantimes.com)