The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is expected to use a whopping 22.5lakh litres of water to maintain the outfield and pitch of the Wankhede Stadium during the Indian Premier League, a member of the association's managing committee has revealed.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is expected to use a whopping 22.5lakh litres of water to maintain the outfield and pitch of the Wankhede Stadium during the Indian Premier League, a member of the association’s managing committee has revealed. This at a time when Marathwada and Osmanabad regions are facing the worst drought in several decades.
Wankhede, ‘home’ to the Mumbai Indians, will host eight matches between April 9 and May 15.
The process of getting the ground ready starts 15 days prior to the match. “The first match is on April 9. Hence, we started work on March 24. We water the ground on a daily basis, except on match-eves.
So that’s a total of 45 days. About five to six tankers are used on such days. Each tanker holds 10,000 litres and costs Rs700. The suppliers source water from borewells located near Metro Cinema,” veteran curator Nadim Memon said.
Memon has overseen the preparation of the outfield at several cricket stadiums in the country. He also heads the MCA’s Maidan Committee.
Memon said water is absolutely necessary, “The IPL is played in the peak of summer. It is important that we keep the ground in prime condition. We have to ensure the pitch remains watered, or else it will crumble. Also, we need to maintain a fine bedding of grass in the outfield. If not, players will get injured. Every ground has to adhere to the mandatory playing conditions of the BCCI. A ground has to be in top shape. And for this, we need water. A lot of it.”
Memon also spoke of the water usage on match days. “You have 30,000 spectators coming in. We need to provide water in the toilets, dressing rooms and the numerous pantries and stalls.”
Pune is the other city in Maharashtra hosting IPL games. The Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, located in Gahunje, will also host eight matches involving the Sahara Pune Warriors. Going by what Memon said, the Pune venue is also likely to use up about 22.5lakh litres during the IPL.
Read our full #mahadrought coverage: http://www.dnaindia.com/coverage/maha-drought
Also read: Drought to dhanda
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