The National Green Tribunal (NGT) of India has expressed concerns that many sports facilities in the country are still relying on groundwater despite the availability of treated wastewater. Particularly cricket venues are in its spot lights but the growing number of synthetic turf water surface for hockey are also a cause of concern.
The tribunal has directed cricket stadiums to file detailed replies explaining their water use practices. Twelve cricket associations have already been fined for failing to submit required reports.
The order follows a report submitted by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), which found that several major cricket stadiums continue to use groundwater for irrigation even where sewage treatment plant (STP) treated water is available nearby.
According to the CGWA, several major cricket venues continue to use groundwater for irrigation even where sewage treatment plant (STP) treated water is available nearby. In some cases, no treated wastewater was being used at all.
One venue that really stands out is the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. This city in East-India is already suffering from an inadequate availability of water yet, the CGWA established that the stadium uses around 6,000 kilolitres of groundwater every month for irrigation. No sewage treatment plant has been installed.
Submit explanation
The NGT has directed cricket associations managing stadiums in Nagpur, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Lahli, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati to submit explanations within six weeks. These stadiums have been asked to disclose the steps taken so far to reduce or eliminate the use of groundwater and to adopt alternative water sources.
The tribunal has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 (EUR 50) each on 12 stadiums and cricket associations for failing to submit reports despite repeated directions. These include stadiums in Delhi, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Indore, Dharamsala, Rajkot, Raipur, Cuttack and Mumbai.
The fine is to be deposited with the secretary of the NGT Bar Association within two weeks. Subject to payment, the defaulting associations have been granted six weeks to submit their replies to the CGWA.
The tribunal noted that the failure to respond had delayed decision-making in the case. The next hearing has been scheduled for April 16, 2026.
Dry hockey
It will only be a matter of time before the NGT will set it sights on synthetic turf hockey surfaces. While the international hockey federation (FIH), together with the industry, has been working on a high-quality synthetic turf for hockey that doesn’t require water to perform, hockey venues around India have increasingly started investing in synthetic turf that do use water. Over the past six months, Sportsfields.info has received reports on dozens of installations of synthetic turf hockey surfaces all over India.
While the volume modern surfaces require is marginal (approximately 8,000 l per watering), this is still a massive amount in a country where many people don’t have access to water at all.
FIH has approved a synthetic turf hockey surface that doesn’t require water yet still performs according to the highest standard. It is unclear why hockey venues in India still prefer installing another products. However, with the growing scarcity of water in mind, it will only be a matter of time before the NGT will take hockey venue owners to task as well.