In the heart of Raipur, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh stadium is set to host the highly anticipated fourth T20 international between India and Australia today. However, a shadow looms over the venue as certain sections remain plunged in darkness. The culprit? An unpaid electricity bill lingering since 2009.
Unraveling the Power Dilemma
The staggering outstanding bill of ₹3.16 crore led to the disconnection of the stadium’s electricity five years ago, creating a persisting challenge for the hosting venue.
Temporary Measures
In a bid to salvage the situation, the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association secured a temporary connection. Regrettably, this makeshift solution only caters to the spectators’ gallery and boxes. Consequently, the floodlights crucial for today’s match will rely on a generator.
Raipur Rural Circle in-charge, Ashok Khandelwal, reveals that the Cricket Association has sought to enhance the capacity of the temporary connection. Currently set at 200 KV, an approved upgrade to 1 thousand KV awaits implementation, although work on this enhancement is yet to commence.
A History of Darkness
This isn’t the first time the stadium has grappled with power woes. In 2018, an outcry ensued during a half-marathon event as athletes discovered the absence of electricity. The revelation unfolded that the overdue electricity bill amounted to ₹3.16 crore, a financial lapse dating back to 2009.
Blame Game: Departments at Odds
Following the stadium’s construction, maintenance responsibilities were entrusted to the Public Works Department (PWD), with the Sports Department expected to cover additional expenses. Unfortunately, the two departments engaged in a blame game regarding the unpaid power bill, leaving the issue unresolved.
Unsettled Dues
Despite receiving multiple notices from the electricity company demanding clearance, neither the PWD nor the Sports Department has settled the dues. Three international cricket matches have transpired at the stadium since the power disconnection in 2018, adding urgency to resolving the lingering electricity predicament.
The current custodian of the stadium, the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS), refutes any liability for outstanding payments to the electricity department.
Jubin Shah, President-CSCS, asserts, “We can’t comment on the previous dues of the department that the stadium was under prior to CSCS coming in. That connection where dues maybe there was in the name of the relevant government department.”
As the India vs Australia T20 showdown unfolds in Raipur, the stadium’s power struggle adds an unexpected layer of drama to the cricketing spectacle. The resolution of this lingering electricity crisis remains uncertain, casting a shadow over the future of this sporting arena.
