Petition in Kanpur against Indian Premier League matches following water crisis

Greenpark is scheduled to host two matches of local boy Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions - against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 19, and Mumbai Indians on May 21.

Kanpur: After Maharashtra and Rajasthan, IPL matches scheduled in Kanpur seem to be heading into trouble as an NGO here today filed a petition seeking cancellation of two encounters at Greenpark Stadium citing lack of water. Greenpark is scheduled to host two matches of local boy Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions – against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 19, and Mumbai Indians on May 21. Anita Dua of NGO Lakshya said she had filed a petition before the Civil Judge (Junior Division) through a lawyer stating the city witnesses confrontation between people over water everyday. “If IPL matches are allowed in the city hundreds of litres of water would be required to prepare the pitches. READ: IPL 2016: Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions to meet and discuss Bombay High Court order, says Rajeev Shukla

Which is wrong. So we’ve requested the matches not be allowed keeping in mind the problem,” Dua said. Hearing on the petition will take place on April 25.  IPL 2016: BCCI to request HC for one more match at Pune

Earlier, Indian Premier League has emerged as a global sports brand, but some people are trying to “destroy” it and new controversies are being created every year, leading BCCI to consider shifting the cash-rich tournament abroad in 2017, IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla said today. When the ICC World Twenty20 was taking place in India just a month ago, nobody raised the issue of water being used for preparing cricket grounds, he said referring to controversy around using water for maintaining pitches for IPL matches in drought-affected Maharashtra. The senior Congress leader, who was in the city to attend a party function, was speaking to reporters.