AGARTALA, Dec 27 � The ONGC Power Corporation Ltd (OTPC) could not undertake power generation at its 726 MW Palatana project due to problem in power evacuation system.
The implementing agency BHEL has put the first unit on run for few days on experimental basis recently. However, the power generated from the first unit could not sustain after North East Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NERLDC) asked the BHEL to suspend the power generation due to problem in 800 KV power transmission line from Silchar to Bongaigaon in Assam.
Sources said full-fledged power generation is not possible unless the transmission line is erected. Though the North East Power Corporation (NEPC) has undertaken work of erecting power line from Palatana to outside the State, the progress is not to the expected level.
The BHEL wants to hand over the first unit of the project at the earliest but OTPC is not ready to take over the project as work for transmission line is yet to be completed.
Consequently, the BHEL has decided to switch on power generation very shortly. �This time, the power generation will last for two weeks. It will be routine checking of the first unit. If checking remains okay, then the BHEL will obviously put pressure on the OTPC to take over the first unit�, said an official of BHEL here on Wednesday.
He said the progress of second unit has so far been satisfactory. �We are expecting to complete the work of second unit by April-May next year�, he said. It may be noted that 726 MW power plant has been divided into two segments and each unit will produce 363 MW as per the project proposal. Besides Tripura, four NE States � Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur will draw power from the Palatana power plant.
