In a shocking turn of events, the Uppal Stadium, set to host the much-anticipated clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) tomorrow, has found itself plunged into darkness as the electricity department disconnected its power supply due to unpaid bills spanning a staggering seven years.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), which oversees operations at the stadium, has reportedly failed to settle a bill amounting to 1.6 crore owed to the electricity distribution company (DISCOM) since 2017. Despite repeated notices and warnings, the HCA remained non-responsive to the demands of the electricity department.
The issue came to a head in February 2024 when the electricity department issued a formal notice to the HCA, seeking the settlement of the outstanding dues. However, no action was taken by the association, leading to the drastic step of disconnecting the power supply to the stadium just a day before the high-profile encounter between CSK and SRH.
Sources within the department revealed that despite continuous follow-ups and attempts to engage with the HCA, there was no cooperation from their end, forcing authorities to resort to such drastic measures.
In response to the crisis, officials associated with the stadium assured that alternative arrangements are being swiftly put in place to ensure that the match proceeds without any interruptions. While the specifics of these arrangements remain undisclosed, it is evident that all efforts are being made to salvage the situation and prevent any disruption to the scheduled game.
