By IANS,
Kolkata : The five-member committee probing the power failure Sunday at the Eden Gardens here during the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) says the breakdown was due to a damaged fuse.
“In our report, we have mentioned that the reason behind the power failure was a damaged fuse,” Ashok Patnaik, committee-head and state sports secretary, told reporters Thursday.
Two of the floodlights went off in the second innings of the first home match of the Knight Riders against and the Hyderabad Deccan Chargers Sunday. As a result, play had to be halted for about 25 minutes.
The West Bengal government formed the committee directing it to submit its report to the sports ministry by Thursday evening.
“The scoreboard was dismantled and hence not working. But these mistakes should not be repeated at the April 29 match between Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians,” Patnaik said.
“The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) will be in charge of operating the scoreboard. We have suggested that specialist operators be invited from Chennai, if required. Besides, an electrical engineer and a certified electrician from the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) will be present at Edens throughout the match.”
He added that 300,000 water packets will be supplied to the audience to overcome the inadequate drinking water facility inside the stadium.
“We have suggested posting of an officer and a pump attendant from the state Public Works Department (PWD) at the grounds,” he said.
State sports minister Subhas Chakraborty formed the committee to look into the reasons for the mismanagement at Edens and submit its report by April 29.
On the other hand, ticket sales for the Knight Riders versus Mumbai Indians match started Thursday morning at CAB ticket counters.
CAB joint secretary Amitabha Bandopadhyay told IANS: ” Almost 70 percent of the tickets have been sold out on the first day itself. Inspite of the rising heat, there is a beeline outside the counters. After all, for the first time Kolkata is going to witness Sourav Ganguly batting against Sachin Tendulkar.”