Published: Jun 26, 2016, 12:25 AM (IST)
Edited: Jun 26, 2016, 12:25 AM (IST)
Pune: Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned the brouhaha over staging of IPL matches in the drought-affected areas, pointing out that cricket grounds are needed to be watered every day, whether a match is played or not on Saturday. He was speaking at a programme here where he launched projects under the Smart City mission across 20 cities. “There is water crisis …Sometimes, our media people distort the things way too much, and we cannot even play cricket. Wherever there is a stadium…Whether a cricket match is held or not, the ground needs to be watered 365 days (of the year),” he said. ALSO READ: IPL 9 (2016), Maharashtra drought: Which matches are being shifted and where
“But the country believed it that since matches are not being held, so the watering also stopped…The country believed this,” the Prime Minister added. “They (grounds) have to be watered for 365 days, that’s how the green cover remains…Otherwise there will be no game in the stadium even after two years…Don’t know from where (they) bring this new philosophy,” he added. Due to the shifting of matches, Maharashtra had to bear a (revenue) loss, Modi said.
Recently, the IPL matches were shifted from Maharashtra due to drought concerns after receiving orders from Bombay High Court. BCCI were against it initially but had to find a way through after the matter was sought at Supreme Court. Matches which were to be held in Mumbai and Pune were shifted to Visakhapatnam and Raipur respectively. Apart from the league matches, Playoffs and final were also shifted to new venues.
