The National Green Tribunal has issued an interim order restraining three cricket stadiums from conducting any sports activities until further notice, citing their failure to respond to repeated notices from the Central Ground Water Authority and the tribunal regarding the use of groundwater and non-installation of rainwater harvesting systems.
Stadiums Affected by the Ban
The three stadiums facing the ban are Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, and Dr D Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai. The NGT's order, dated July 2 and made available on July 10, 2026, comes after these stadiums ignored multiple communications from the authorities.
Earlier in April 2026, the tribunal had issued notices to six cricket stadiums across India, including Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, demanding explanations for their failure to disclose the source of water used for maintaining pitches and grounds. The other stadiums were Barabati Stadium in Cuttack and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Context of the Case
The case pertains to the use of groundwater or fresh water for maintaining cricket grounds instead of treated water from sewage treatment plants, as well as the failure to install rainwater harvesting systems for groundwater storage, discharge, and restoration. The NGT had sought responses from the stadiums to address these environmental concerns.
According to the tribunal, Barabati Stadium requested four weeks to file a reply, the Lucknow stadium had already submitted its response, and Arun Jaitley Stadium also filed a reply, after which the CGWA sought additional information. However, the remaining three stadiums did not respond despite repeated notices.
NGT's Observations and Directions
Advocates Adnan, Satyam Shekhar, and Abhik Chandra, representing the applicant, informed the tribunal that the three non-compliant stadiums had not responded despite repeated notices and the imposition of costs. The CGWA's counsel confirmed that these stadiums had been served multiple times but failed to file any response.
“Having regard to the serious issue of water shortage in different areas of the country, we were expecting that these stadiums will duly respond to the tribunal's notice and will take appropriate corrective measures, but in spite of repeated notices not only from the tribunal but also from the CGWA, these three stadiums have not cared to file any response,” the tribunal stated.
The NGT further directed that “by way of interim direction, we restrain the following three stadiums … from carrying on any further sports activity in the stadium without the leave of the tribunal till the next date of hearing.” The next hearing is scheduled for August 17, 2026.
