Water‑Use Rules Prompt Tribunal to Halt Activities at Major Indian Cricket Venues

The National Green Tribunal has taken a strong stance on water sustainability by halting all cricket‑related activities at three key stadiums. The decision comes after the Central Ground Water Authority repeatedly warned the venues about unlawful extraction of groundwater for pitch preparation. The NGT ordered that only water treated at certified sewage treatment plants may be used, and that rain‑water harvesting infrastructure must be installed promptly. The affected stadiums – located in Raipur, Jaipur, and Mumbai – failed to respond to earlier notices and to submit the required compliance reports. The tribunal warned that continued non‑compliance would lead to further penalties, and set the next hearing date for August 17, when the courts will review the stadiums' remedial actions.