Today marks the scheduled clash between India and Australia in the fourth T20 international at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh stadium, a highly anticipated event that has now been overshadowed by an unexpected issue – the lack of electricity in parts of the venue. The reason behind this inconvenience is a long-standing problem: an unpaid electricity bill lingering since 2009.
With an outstanding bill of Rs 3.16 crore, the stadium faced disconnection from the power grid five years ago. Despite a temporary connection being arranged upon the request of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association, it only caters to the spectators’ gallery and boxes. As a consequence, the floodlights crucial for the evening match will be powered by a generator.
Raipur Rural Circle in-charge, Ashok Khandelwal, revealed that an application to upgrade the temporary connection’s capacity from 200 KV to 1 thousand KV has been approved, but the actual work on this enhancement has yet to commence. This delayed process adds another layer of uncertainty to the ongoing situation.
The stadium’s power predicament has historical roots. In 2018, participants in a half-marathon were surprised by the absence of electricity, leading to an uproar. It was then disclosed that the unpaid electricity bill, dating back to 2009, had accumulated to Rs 3.16 crore.
Post-stadium construction, its maintenance responsibility was handed over to the Public Works Department (PWD), with the Sports Department expected to cover remaining expenses. However, a blame game ensued between the two departments regarding the unpaid power bill. Despite numerous notices from the electricity company urging the PWD and Sports Department to settle their dues, no payment has been made to date.
The looming power crisis has persisted since 2018, affecting three international cricket matches held in the stadium. As the cricket enthusiasts await the outcome of today’s match, the broader issue of financial mismanagement and responsibility allocation continues to cast a shadow over the otherwise thrilling contest.
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