From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: The first phase of Monarchak power plant will be commissioned by January 2013 next, said NEEPCO Chairman Cum Managing Director (CMD) Prem Chand Pankaj here on Wednesday.
Mr. Pankaj who assumed office as head of the regional power generational body (NEEPCO) recently met Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Power Minister Manik Dey at Civil Secretariat here.
Soon after the meetings, the NEEPCO chief told reporters that the first phase (60 MW) of the Monarchak power plant would be operational by January 2013 next and later another 40 MW would be generated by using stream turbine.
He said that the turbine for the first phase would be transported through Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-44) since the weight of the machinery is much less than that of the turbine for Palatana power plant.Admitting the tardy pace of civil construction at Monarchak site, the CMD said that the work would be speeded up after the monsoon. “It is not viable to undertake construction work during the monsoon and the construction work will get momentum in due course of time”, he said.
Sources said, the Chief Minister has instructed the NEEPCO authority to commission the Monarchak project at the earliest because it has already got delayed. Sarkar also assured all possible help to the NEEPCO if they require.
Mr. Pankaj further said that the NEEPCO had already submitted a DPR for another 42 MW power unit at Ramchandranagar before the Power Ministry.
“We expecting to get the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) within next one month”, the CMD said.
The NEEPCO has decided to set up a power unit at its Agartala Gas Thermal Project (AGTP) by using emitted gas from the existing units.
Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde laid the foundation stone for the 42-MW power unit in January this year.