IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla reacts to the Bombay High Court's verdict on the matches being moved out of Maharashtra in May. Shukla said several events take place despite the drought so why should IPL only suffer?

As reports come in that the owners of franchisees will be challenging the ruling, King's XI Punjab owner Ness Wadia said there was indeed a serious water crisis in Maharashtra and the court had taken the right step.

Shukla, meanwhile, said it would not be easy to shift the matches. "Planning was on for six months. Why weren't objections raised then? It's not easy to organise IPL. We are willing to help farmers but shifting the matches is not an answer. We will work on a strategy after we get the order in writing."

Thirteen matches including the IPL final will be moved out of Maharashtra.

The BCCI, on Tuesday, had informed the Bombay high court that recycled sewage water will be used for maintaining pitches for the 17 Indian Premier League matches to be held in Mumbai and Pune.

According to the Mumbai Cricket Association lawyer, who is also representing the BCCI, the treated sewage water will be supplied by the Royal Western India Turf Club which would in turn be helpful in tackling water crisis without using potable water.

Maharashtra has been hit by a severe drought which has led to water shortage in remote areas like Latur and a PIL has been filed in the Bombay high court about the million litres of water required to conduct 20 IPL matches.