Guru Nanak Stadium—the only centre for sports activities in the city is running without power for over a month now as dues amounting to Rs 5 lakh were not paid to the board. The dues are pending for more than a year.

The MC records say that the stadium was handed over to the Sports Department nearly six years back.

Though MC had been paying the bills even after the ownership was handed over to the Sports Department, the problem cropped up when the corporation refused to pay the bills.

District Sports Officer Gianinder Singh while talking to Newsline said," We have taken up the matter with the sports director so that the matter can be resolved. Our offices run from the stadium and even students of the basketball academy, who live in the stadium are studying under candle light these days."

As the MC refuses to foot the bills, their horticulture wing, projects wing and other departments of the corporation operating from the stadium for the last many years are having a tough time.

The sports wing while acting tough with the MC has asked the corporation to vacate the rooms if it does not want to pay the bills.

The MC officials in a reply have categorically stated that the corporation has spent crores of rupees on the stadium and if the Sports Department wants the rooms back then it has to pay for all the money spent on the infrastructure of the stadium.

"The MC had spent crores of rupees apart from other expenditure during the national games. It has also spent a large sum of money in the last many years ," claimed a senior MC official.

Meanwhile, MC Commissioner Vikas Partap said," We are ready to pay the bill for the area being used by our department. A sub-meter can be installed. In my opinion, the matter stands sorted out provided the Sports Department is ready to pay their part of the bill."