AGARTALA, Dec 21 � To tide over the severe power crisis, the Assam Government has sought power from the proposed 104 MW Manarchak power project in Tripura scheduled to be commissioned by 2014 next.
Principal Secretary Power to Assam Government met Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey at the Civil Secretariat on Monday and expressed desire to buy power from the NEEPCO power project.
The Power Minister said the State Government has no reservation to supply power to Assam but the government will not take any responsibility for evacuation of power to Assam, an official source said here on Wednesday.
On March 1, 2002, the then Union Power Minister Suresh Prabhu had laid the foundation stone for the 500 MW Manarchak power plant in West Tripura district. However, the ambitious project ran into tough weather due to alleged non-cooperation of the Centre. Later, the NEEPCO had to restructure the plan and decided to set up a 104 MW power plant at Manarchak. The State Government had signed an agreement on power purchase with the NEEPCO.
Sources said, Principal Secretary to Assam accompanied by Chief General Manager of Assam Electricity Corporation visited the 726 MW Palatana power plant in South Tripura district to know the progress of the Rs 3,500 crore project on Tuesday. Five Northeastern States including Assam will receive power from the Palatana power project.
Meanwhile, the Palatana power project which was scheduled to be commissioned by February next year, will now come up by March 15 next.
Tripura Chief Secretary SK Panda who had a meeting with the Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of PGCIL and the Managing Director of OTPC and Chief Engineer of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to review the progress of the mega power project on Wednesday told reporters that the first phase of 726 MW power plant will come by May 15. However, the turbines will be put on trial run by March 31, he said.
The delay in commissioning the project, the OTPC Managing Director has said that some equipments are still in Bangladesh and will be taken by December 31 while consignment carrying cooling turbine is stranded in Shillong.
