NGT Grants Conditional Approval for Women's Cricket Matches at Raipur Stadium

The National Green Tribunal has granted conditional approval for the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur to host three international women's cricket matches in October. This decision comes with strict environmental safeguards, including a ₹20 lakh deposit for groundwater recharge initiatives. The Tribunal emphasized the need for the stadium to reduce groundwater usage and prioritize treated sewage water for maintenance. The case will be revisited in December 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices in sports facilities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 8, 2026, 15:00 IST

Approval with Environmental Conditions

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has authorized the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur to host three international women's cricket matches on October 16, 18, and 20. This approval comes with specific environmental conditions regarding the use of groundwater for maintaining the playing surface.

Environmental Safeguards Imposed

A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad revised a previous order that had prohibited sports activities at the stadium. The Tribunal has mandated that the stadium deposit ₹20 lakh with the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB). This amount will be utilized to develop a groundwater recharge scheme, which must be presented before the next hearing.

Water Conservation Efforts

The NGT's ruling is part of ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with directives aimed at minimizing groundwater usage for cricket grounds. The Tribunal has previously restricted three stadiums, including the Raipur venue, from conducting sports events without prior approval.

In the case of the Raipur stadium, it was reported that 828 KLD of groundwater was being utilized for ground maintenance. Although a sewage treatment plant (STP) with a capacity of 150 KLD was installed, the stadium failed to provide information on the amount of treated water produced or utilized.

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) informed the Tribunal that the stadium primarily relied on groundwater and had not transitioned to using STP-treated water. The Tribunal emphasized the importance of rational groundwater use.

Next Steps and Future Hearings

The stadium's legal representative requested permission to use the ground for the upcoming international matches. While granting this request, the Tribunal instructed the stadium to prioritize the use of STP-treated water over groundwater for maintenance and to submit a report on the actions taken before the next hearing.

The NGT has previously directed that cricket and other sports facilities should utilize high-quality treated sewage water whenever feasible, alongside implementing rainwater harvesting and recharge systems.

The case is scheduled for further review on December 9, 2026.