Agartala:The joint survey team of India and Bangladesh is scheduled to hold bilateral meeting followed by inspecting the proposed power transmission line between Tripura and Bangladesh to start transporting power across the border on November 3 next.
Chairman and Managing Director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) Shyamal Kumar Roy said here today that three officials from Bangladesh and five from Indian side besides, all other related people of power trading organisations will attend the meeting to finalise the roadmap for trans-border power supply. India government has agreed to supply power to Bangladesh via Comilla grid from 726.6 MW combined cycle mega thermal power project at Palatana, as Government of Bangladesh is desperately in need of power.
Mr Roy said both the stakeholders prepared a draft roadmap for power transmission lines from Tripura into Bangladesh in the first meeting early this year and three routes were proposed in the draft; one among these will be finalized in the next meeting.
He however, pointed out that Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) is agreed to connect both the countries in power transmission network and all ready Tripura government has erected in Indian parts for evacuation of power from Palatana to state grid Suryamaninagar of Agartala, which is connected to National power grid in Bongaigoan.
“After finalization of route for international power trading PGCIL will extend 400 KV transmission lines up to South Comilla grid of Bangladesh, which is close to Indian power network”, he stated. Mr Roy further said that it was not yet decided who will sell it’s share of power to Bangladesh, as the issue is the prerogative of the central government. Both Palatana power generation ONGC Tripura Power Project (OTPC) and Tripura government is interested to supply power to Bangladesh.
“At present Tripura is self-sufficient in power generation and as routine only 30 minutes to one hour load shedding are occurred by with the installation of 363 MW second unit of Palatana and two more projects of NEEPCO by December, Tripura will be the power surplus state and anyway we have to sell the power,” Mr Roy added.
Talking on upgradation of distribution line, he maintained Tripura government has given Rs 76 Cr to TSECL in first phase work for laying of underground cables in the major parts of the capital city Agartala in next two years and 16 other towns as well as the extended part of Agartala will be in the second phase.
Meanwhile, PGCIL officials stated that World Bank has agreed to provide a major share of Rs 8,150 Cr for improving power transmission system in six northeastern states by erecting new power transmission lines and most modern power sub-stations.
The PGCIL signed agreements with Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura for implementing project in the states with the assistance of World Bank for improvement of the existing system to reduce transmission loss and maintenance.
World Bank will provide lone a major share to PGCIL for the project where Tripura is scheduled to get Rs 1,364 Cr, officials added. (UNI)