Manarchak project : EIL to take up pipeline work

Agartala: The Engineering India Ltd (EIL), a government of India PSU looks set to take up the gas pipeline laying work up to proposed Mancharchak power plant in Sonamura subdivision.
The 101-MW power plant is almost ready to generate power but could not undertake even trial run because of gas supply, NEEPCO sources claimed.
The problem arose after Shivani Oil and Gas company deserted the gas pipeline laying work following severe financial crisis.
To tide over the crisis like situation, the ONGC has scrapped the contract with Shivani Oil and Gas company and started exploring option to resume the half-done works.
“On Tuesday, a meeting was held between ONGC and EIL in Delhi where the later (EIL) has agreed to take up the half-done gas pipeline laying work up to Manarchak”, said an official of the oil giant here on Saturday.
Even if the problems seem to be over after the initial response from the EIL, lot of paper works needs to be done to resume the remaining work of pipeline.
Besides, the gas pipeline, one Gas Gathering Station (GGS) needs to be constructed to supply gas to the NEEPCO mulled Manarchak power plant, he said.
“We are hopeful of finalizing the tender procedure so that the EIL could start work at the earliest. The ONGC is committed to supply gas to the proposed power plant”, he added.
As per the plan, the 101-MW power was supposed to start its commercial generation by January this year. Now, the plant is scheduled to generate power by end of this year.
The NEEPCO has invested crores of money to commission the gas based thermal power project.