From Our Correspondent
Agartala: The full-load testing of the first unit of Platana power project, which was delayed due to objections raised by a land owner in Byrnihat, is all set to be conducted by February 28.
Talking to media here on Friday, OTPC’s Managing Director SK Dubey said the first of the 726- MW power plant was scheduled to be commissioned by January 31. But the transmission problem came on the way of undertaking full-load testing of the first unit.
The commercial operation of the first unit will kick off after conducting the full-load testing spanning over 15 days. “Now the project is under stabilization period and it will continue few more days”, he said.
Dubey informed that the prescheduled full-load testing could not take place following case filed by a land owner in Meghalaya’s Byrnihat.
Following a writ petition, the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court asked the Deputy Commissioner of Byrnihat area to assess the value of land used for erection of a tower for transmission line.
Challenging the High Court verdict, the Northeast Power Corporation (NEPC) approached the Supreme Court so that it could go ahead with the transmission line. In the petition, the NEPC also assured it would provide adequate compensation to the petitioner or whatever the DC asked for.
“If the legal battle was not fought, the full-load testing could have been done by this time,” he said adding that the transmission line between Silchar-Byrnihat had been done.
Asserting that the PMO is monitoring the project regularly, an amount of Rs 4000 crore has been spent for setting power plant while Rs 4000 crore has been used for laying gas-pipe line.
Besides, an amount of Rs. 2000 crore would be spent for erection of 660 km transmission line from Agarala to Bongaigoan.