From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: The first unit of mega Palatana project is all set to be operational by May next year, said Sudhir Vasudeva, Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of ONGC here on Wednesday.
The CMD along with Director (HR) S K Jamestin and OTPC Managing Director SK Dubey called on Chief Minister Manik Sarkar at Civil Secretariat and discussed various issues related to the 726 MW power project.
After the meeting with the Chief Minister, the ONGC chief said that he had a meeting with people engaged in the Rs.3950 crore project at Palatana in South Tripura district.
“They told me that the first phase of the project will be commissioned by May come what may. The second unit will be operation by August next year”, he said.
Vasudeva who visited the proposed Palatana Power project in Udaipur subdivision held meeting with senior officials of ONGC, OTPC and BHEL to know the progress of the work.
As per the rescheduled timing, the first phase of 726 MW power project will be commissioned by May 15, 2012 next.
On the delay in executing the project, the CMD said that Engineers and allied staff had a tough time to meet the deadline because the area is remote, some 56 km from the capital town.
“The OTPC had to struggle a lot to bring heavy equipments to the work site. Besides, there is shortage of skilled manpower and non-availability of equipments”, he pointed out.
Five states- Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram will get power from the proposed power project. To ensure smooth transmission of power, the PGCIL has been making all out efforts to erect the line up to silchar and later it will be extended up to Bongaigoan.
The ONGC has 50 percent stake while 26 percent is owned by ILFS in the Rs. 3950 crore project, according to sources. It may be noted that during the year 2011-12, the ONGC has made tremendous progress in terms of exploration and discovery of gas wells. proposed power project.
Five northeastern states will receive power from the Palatana power project.