Ahead of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) home fixture against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024, the Mullanpur Stadium in Mohali has received a major blow. A PIL (Public Interest Litigation) has reportedly been lodged with the Punjab and Haryana High Court to refrain the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other concerned authorities from organising cricket matches at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket stadium in Mullanpur in Mohali.
This comes as a blow after the stadium hosted only one match in the IPL 2024. Talking of the stadium, which is spread over more than 41 acres, boasts a seating capacity of 33,000. Ahead of the PBKS vs SRH match, Nikhil Thamman, a law student filed the PIL in the High Court under counsel Sunaina. He quoted that the stadium is constructed in an unauthorized area and termed the campus violating the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006.
Moreover, the petitioner also sought an immediate injunction against BCCI’s sale of match tickets for the IPL. In the notification, dated from September 14, 2006 states that an environmental clearance is a must for projects exceeding 1.5 Lakh sq. m of built area. It also states that one must obtain clearance from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife if the project site is within the eco-sensitive zone or with 10km radius.
“As of now, no eco-sensitive zone has been declared around the two wildlife sanctuaries of the UT Chandigarh. Therefore, all projects falling within the 10km radius of the boundary of two bird sanctuaries – Chandigarh City Bird sanctuary in Sector 21 and Sukhana Wildlife Sanctuary – were required to seek environment clearance,” the petitioner said a quoted by The Tribune.
However, it will be seen how the BCCI and IPL authorities look into this matter with the stadium set to host four more matches in the IPL 2024. While the next match is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, April 9, the next few matches will follow.
