The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) disconnected the power supply to Bengaluru's iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, operated by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), over non-compliance with fire safety regulations.
Why Chinnaswamy Stadium lose its power supply?
The power supply was cut as a precautionary measure after it was found that the KSCA, which runs the stadium, did not obtain a mandatory fire safety certificate, commonly known as a Fire No Objection Certificate (Fire NOC), despite regularly hosting large crowds for major cricket matches and events.
This action was taken after the Director General of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services wrote to the BESCOM Managing Director, directing the disconnection of the stadium’s electricity for failing to implement recommended fire safety measures. The recommendation was acted upon, and power to the stadium was disconnected.
Officials have said that the disconnection will continue until the required safety certificate is received. Currently, power to the stadium is being supplied through generators.
Karnataka HC had criticised BESCOM for providing electricity to stadium
Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had criticised BESCOM for continuing to provide electricity to the stadium despite clear violations of fire safety protocols. The matter came up during the hearing of a petition filed by KSCA challenging the disconnection notice issued by BESCOM.
A single-judge bench of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav heard the petition filed by the KSCA challenging the notice issued by BESCOM regarding the disconnection of electricity.
The counsel for the petitioner said, "Some developments have taken place after BESCOM issued the notice, and we filed the application in court. On June 12, BESCOM issued a notice of disconnection and disconnected the electricity. An application was filed on June 17 challenging that. The electricity connection was restored on the same day."
The bench had noted that BESCOM had supplied electricity even after knowing that all precautions were not followed by KSCA.
To this, BESCOM’s lawyer, Likhit, told the court that the electricity connection was restored based on KSCA's request and would be disconnected again.
The bench then said that the government should issue a fire safety clearance letter. "If you provide electricity without consulting the government, the court will not remain silent. The disaster that has already occurred is enough. Who will be responsible if another mishap occurs? If fire safety measures are not taken, let the stadium remain in darkness. The only option left is to adopt fire safety measures to obtain an electricity connection. There should be zero tolerance for risks."
After hearing the arguments, the bench issued notices to the BESCOM Managing Director, BESCOM Assistant Executive Engineer, and the Director General of Fire Safety and Emergency Services, and adjourned the hearing to July 15.
The Director General of the Department of Fire Safety and Emergency Services had instructed the Managing Director of BESCOM on June 10, 2025, to disconnect the power supply provided to KSCA since July 7, 2011, for failure to implement the fire safety precautions suggested in the department’s advisory letter dated May 11, 2023. Accordingly, BESCOM issued a notice of disconnection to KSCA on June 12.
(With ANI inputs)
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