From Our Correspondent
Agartala: Cloud looms large over the commissioning of Manarchak power project by September this year as announced by the NEEPCO authority, official sources confirmed here on Tuesday.
Establishing of gas turbine at Manarchak has already been completed but there is arrangement of supplying natural gas to the plant yet, said Head of Project (HoP) SR Biswas.
“By September, the NEEPCO authority will be able to complete gas charge to the project but ground work for supply gas has not yet been done”, he said adding that fixing of filter, metering station and work at Khedabari GGS are yet to be completed.
According to sources, the 10 km gas pipeline from Khedabari to Manarchak has not been completed despite repeated efforts by the NEEPCO. Problem over land acquisition comes on the way of completion of the pipeline, according to ONGC sources. Of the total length of gas pipeline, around 7 km has so far been completed.
Biswas said even if the ONGC ensures supply of gas by end of next month, the NEEPCO needs at least one and half month to undertake various categories of testing or else the project will face same fake like Palatana.
“We have taken up the matter with the ONGC authority several times but has not got response yet. Under this circumstance, it will be difficult to commission the project on scheduled time- September 2013”, he said. If the project is not commissioned by September, the power shortage will continue to haunt the state even after taking up two ambitious power projects- Palatana and Manarchak.
Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of NEEPCO PC Pankaj during his visit to the state had promised that the first phase of Manarchak power plant would be operation by September this year. However, the ground realty speaks reverse of the promise.