IND vs AUS, 4th T20I: Raipur Stadium running on generators due to unpaid electricity bills

It’s one of the rarest situations we’ve ever encountered in recent years and it would be interesting how the authorities handle it.

The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur. (Image: Twitter

Raipur: The 4th T20I between India and Australia, which will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur, will be dependent on power generators as the stadium cannot afford regular electricity supply due to unpaid electricity bills since 2009. It is one of the rarest situations that we have ever encountered in recent years and it would be interesting how the authorities deal with them.

The stadium was disconnected from power supply some five years ago in 2018 and the current bill currently stands at INR 3.16 crore. The Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association has requested a temporary connection, but the connection will only provide power to the spectator gallery and the boxes.

Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh media coordinator Tarunesh Singh Parihar said:

“As far as stadium lighting is concerned, I don’t know how much bill is still outstanding, but a temporary connection has been made in the name of CSCS.”

An earlier report stated that Raipur Rural Circle boss Ashok Khandelwal has requested an increase in the power of the temporary connection from 200 KV to 1000 KV.

The maintenance of the stadium is the responsibility of the PWD, Public Works Department, and the expenditure was to be taken care of by the Sports Department. Due to their internal dispute, the bill is still unpaid despite repeated warnings from the electricity department.

India now lead the series 2-1 and a win today will seal the deal. Australia would like to take the series to the final match on December 3.