30 June 2010: Though World Cup soccer has been on for two weeks most Chin people are unable to watch the matches regularly because of irregular electricity supply in Hakha town, Chin state.

"The 19th World Cup kicked off on 11 June in South Africa. Most Chin people are keen on soccer and evince more interest in football than the forthcoming elections in Burma but they can watch only 10 games because of irregular power supply, " said U Thanbik a soccer crazy fan in Hakha town.

"In summer there is no water because of irregular power but even in monsoon they can't supply electricity. They should supply power during the World Cup because it is once in four years," he said.

There is a power line, a special line, a regular line and a commander’s line and these four lines supply power to Hakha town.

The Commander’s line and the power get electricity the whole day and night and are meant for government dignitaries and the village rich (city dwellers).

They spend around Kyat 40,000 to 50,000 a month for meter bills.
Special lines supply power every night from 7 pm up to 6 am. About Kyat 5000 to 10,000 is paid a month. Regular lines supply differs. It is from 2 am to 6 pm to 11 pm and they spend around Kyat 1500 to 2500 a month.

Most Hakha people use a regular line so the light they get is one time, which is at 2 am so most football fans face a problem. "Most football fans pay Kyat 300 for watching one game in a house with an inverter, " said Ko Sang Ning.

World cup matches are telecast three times in one day from Myawadi and MRTV, but from 23 June, it has been twice in one day.

The authorities cannot supply enough electricity to light up more than 6000 houses in Hakha Township.