At Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, India and Australia played their fourth Twenty20 international match yesterday. However, there doesn’t seem to be electricity in some areas of the stadium with only hours to go before the important match. This is due to an unpaid power payment that dates back to 2009. The stadium’s energy connection was interrupted five years ago because of an overdue bill of ? 3.16 crore.
Upon the insistence of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association, a temporary link was set up. However, it is limited to the boxes and spectator gallery. It would be necessary to use a generator to power the floodlights during today’s play.
The Secretary Cricket Association has asked to expand the capacity of the stadium’s temporary connection, according to Raipur Rural Circle In-Charge Ashok Khandelwal.
The temporary connection’s current capacity is 200 KV. Although work on upgrading it to 1,000 KV has not yet begun, the application has been granted
When half-marathon participants discovered that the stadium did not have a power supply in 2018, it caused chaos. Then it was revealed that the electrical bill, which had increased to ? 3.16 crore. Moreso, the bill had not been paid since 2009 which is astonishing.
Following completion, the Public Works Department (PWD) assumed responsibility for the stadium’s upkeep, with the Sports Department covering any outstanding costs. The unpaid electricity bill has become the subject of accusations between the two departments. Although PWD and the Sports Department received many notifications from the electrical supplier to pay up. However, according to reports still no payment has been made as of yet.
“We can’t comment on the previous dues of the department” : Jubin Shah
Since the 2018 power outage, three international cricket games have taken place in the venue. The stadium is presently managed by the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS), and they stated they owe the energy department nothing.
Jubin Shah, President of the CSCS spoke about this current issue as he said, “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,”
Fans react as 4th T20I between India and Australia gets run on Generators due to unpaid dues: –
India Vs Australia in Raipur yesterday was played on generators and power backups which cost 1.4cr. The Stadium's electricity was snapped 5 years ago due to an unpaid dues of 3.1cr. (TOI). pic.twitter.com/X0TB4MwfzE
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 2, 2023
Power country don't have electricity neither toilets and they troll us for Aata
— Sardar Adnan (@Chishmish_hon) December 2, 2023
Why BCCI thinks only Ahmedabad stadium ?? represents India. Isn’t cricket board responsibility to take care of every stadium in the country or is it state cricket boards responsibility to?
— Raj Paladi (@IamRajPaladi) December 2, 2023
They can't pay 3.1 cr dues but they can spend 1.4 cr in one night?
— MemoCracy (@BiggBoss1314) December 2, 2023
1.4cr for 1 match ? pic.twitter.com/J1uHiKTuy0
— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) December 2, 2023
And they blame the government for pollution.
Pay the bill and use the electricity.
— Ajeet (@ajeetweets) December 2, 2023
BCCI being the Millon dollar board and controls ICC as well does not have money to pay electricity bills. Yesterday PAK journalists revealed this story and then got bashed by Indian fans
— Sports syncs (@moiz_sports) December 2, 2023
Because they are not hosting many games as other stadiums ??
— TOP 10 OF EVERYTHING (@top10ofeveryT) December 2, 2023
Congress govt scam kr diya hoga
— Anshuman Singh (@indiancrusher) December 2, 2023
And shameless @BCCI given the Nagpur match to raipur
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) December 2, 2023
