The Mumbai unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to shift Indian Premier League cricket matches out of the state because of prevailing drought conditions, reported PTI. In a letter, city BJP Secretary Vivekanand Gupta said more than 70 lakh litres of water will be needed to maintain the grounds for the 19 matches scheduled to be played at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur between April 9 and May 29. The final match will be held at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on May 29.

"When our state is affected by drought, will it be wise to waste 70 lakh litres of water? Even Mumbai faces acute water shortage. This is the time to show sympathy to our 'annadatta' (farmer)," he said in a statement issued on Saturday. According to Gupta, a standard cricket field requires a minimum of 80,000 to 1,00,000 litres of water per application, and about two to three such applications per week to maintain turf growth and repair damaged areas. He also said more water was needed in hot and windy weather, than in winter. "Rainfall in last two years in Marathwada and Vidharbha region was the lowest. Successive low rainfall has resulted in falling ground water levels, which has impacted 90 lakh farmers in the state," he added, saying he hoped the BCCI would support the state's farmers.