The Bombay HC has allowed the inaugural Indian Premier League match at Mumbai on April 9 to be played but has strictly prohibited the Maharashtra government from providing “as much water as they want” to the Indian cricket board for maintaining playgrounds in the drought-hit state.

The court, hearing an NGO’s petition against holding matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League in the state in view of the water crisis, also pulled up the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) saying, 

“
…people are dying and you want to maintain pitches?

”

Almost 70% of the state has been declared drought-hit. Three cities in Maharashtra -- Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune -- are set to host 20 matches of the IPL.

The court also directed the government to investigate from where the BCCI was getting the rest of the water if it was supplied only 22,000-litres water and asked for a statement by Tuesday on whether the water supplied to stadiums was potable or non-potable.