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Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium with no electricity ahead of India vs Australia T20I (File Photo: Twitter)
India and Australia are set to take on each other in the fourth T20I of the five-match series. The match is to be played today from 7.00 PM at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, there has arisen a big concern just a few hours ahead of the start of the match.
It has been learned that there is no supply of electricity in the major parts of the stadium. The main reason behind this is that there is an electricity bill of INR 3.16 crores, which has been due since 2009. So, it’s been 14 years of non-payment of the electricity bill for the supply of power in the stadium. In the same line of events, the power connection at the stadium was disconnected almost 5 years ago.
Amidst all this, the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association requested the installment of a temporary power connection; but unfortunately, that particular temporary connection is supplying the electricity only to the gallery of spectators and a few boxes. So, a generator will be used to supply the electricity for the smooth functioning of the floodlights during today’s match between India and Australia.
"Don't know how much the bill is outstanding." - CSCA Media Coordinator
Electricity in-charge of Raipur Rural Circle, Ashok Khandelwal informed that CSCA’s Secretary came up with a request and application demanding an increase in temporary connection capacity.
“As far as the stadium lights are concerned, I don't know how much the bill is outstanding but a temporary connection has been taken in the name of CSCS,” said Tarunesh Singh Parihar, media coordinator of Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association.
Speaking of the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and Australia, the hosts India are leading the series by a margin of 2-1. They registered two consecutive wins in the first two T20Is of the series followed by a 5-wicket defeat against the visitors. Now, the men in blue will be eyeing gaining an unassailable lead of 3-1 in the series with a win in the fourth T20I in Raipur.