Narendra Modi questions shifting IPL out of Maharashtra; says stadiums need water all the time

Pune: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday questioned the brouhaha over staging of Indian Premier League (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.

He was speaking at a programme in Pune where he launched projects under the ‘Smart City’ mission across 20 cities.

“There is water crisis today…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.

There was opposition to holding of IPL matches in the recently-concluded IPL in Maharashtra, which witnessed a severe drought, with some matches having to be shifted elsewhere after an order by the Bombay High Court.

“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.