AGARTALA: To ensure undisrupted power supply during Durga puja, Tripura will import 175 MW additional power from Northeastern states and Central pool, according to official sources here on Tuesday.
Tripura might require 280 MW power during the puja days though the state’s normal pick-hour demand stands at 230/240 MW. Five states – Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Mizoram – will supply additional electricity to Tripura during the five-day Durga Puja festival
The decision of importing power from outside the state has been taken after Palatana power plant failed to supply power even after much-hyped inauguration.
“Keeping in mind of additional demand of power, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) has decided to buy 60 MW from Jammu& Kashmir 25 MW from Mizoram, 70 MW from Central Pool and 20 MW from Meghalaya”, said Power Minister Manik Dey.
The TSECL will have to spend Rs. 3 crore to arrange additional supply of power during the puja days, he said adding that devotees would be able to celebrate puja without power cut if major fault is not occurred in the transmission line.
The undisrupted power supply will ensure from October 10 to 19.
The state’s own power generation hovers at only 113 MW as commercial operation of Palatana power project is yet to start despite efforts by the OTPC.
However, sources claimed, the OTPC authority assures the TSECL authority to supply power during the puja days.
But TSECL authority could not take chance on the assurance of OTPC because of present stalemate at the Palatana plant site.
“The ONGC has been asked to supply additional gas and if it is happened state’s owner power generation would be increased from 113 to 119 MW”, he added. ( inputs from IANS)
