From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA:The mega Palatana power project which was scheduled to be operational by December end this year, will come up by February, said AK Hazarika, the Chairman cum Managing Director of oil giant ONGC.
Hazarika who arrived here along with BHEL Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) BP Rao and top officials of ONGC and OTPC on Friday made an on-spot inspection to oversee the progress of the Rs. 3000 crore power plant project.
Though he was impressed with the way works were going ahead over the last seven months, the ONGC chief said that the first phase which was scheduled for end of December, 2011 would come up by February next year.
According to him, the OTPC has suffered a lot after heavy equipments like Gas Turbine was skidded off the puller vehicle while transporting from Akhaura to Palatana.
Besides, heavy rains washed away by-passes several times and now the monsoon is on its full fury. “However, the US made Gas Tribune was okay even after the mishap”, he said.
“Considering all aspects, the OTPC and BHEL authorities are of the view that the first phase could be completed by end of February next year”, he said.
To a query about the second phase of the 726 MW power plant, the CMD said, “We are not in a position to give any commitment now because the Gas Turbine (GT) is still in Bangladesh. As the monsoon is in l fury, nobody wants to take any chance by flagging off the journey of the GT”, he pointed out.
As many as eight Over Dimensional Cargos (ODCs) for the Palatana project are still in Bangladesh.
Hazarika expressed satisfaction over the work on erection of high-power transmission line for evacuating the power to National Grind. As per the agreement, Meghalaya will receive 79 MW power from the Palatana power plant while Assam will get maximum allocation- 240 MW. Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh will also draw power from the mega power plant.