AGARTALA, Jan 16 � The days are not far when the power-deficit North East would become power surplus with coming up of new power projects.
As of now, the NE requires 2,200 MW power during peak-hour and the shortfall stands at five per cent.
After coming up of the second unit (363 MW) of Palatana power project, scheduled for June next, the overall power deficit in the region would come down further.
And the power generation would improve further once the NEEPCO mulled Manarchak (101 MW) gets operational, according to experts in the power sector.
Though the North East is on way to become power surplus, the transmission network within the States appears as a major problem facing the ONGC Power Corporation Ltd (OTPC).
With permission from the North East Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NERLDC), the OTPC is supplying power to the Northeastern States from its operational first unit of Palatana.
�We may face trouble in evacuating power from the second unit of Palatana if the transmission network is not enhanced. As of now, the 400 KV transmission line has been erected from Palatana to Byrnihat (Meghalaya) through Silchar. This transmission line needs to be extended upto Bongaigaon to evacuate power to the national power grid�, said the Managing Director of OTPC SK Dube.
The erection of the 400 KV transmission line from Byrnihat (Meghalaya) to Bongaigaon (Assam) has been stalled as forest clearance is yet to be sanctioned for four locations, he said while interacting with the media.
�We are hopeful of receiving the necessary clearance from the Centre to push the erection of the high power transmission line. Once the line is erected, power from Palatana�s second unit could be exported outside the State also�, Dube, who visited the Palatana site to oversee the status of the power plant, said.
Asked if there is a plan to sell power to neighbouring Bangladesh, he said, �I am not in a position to pass any comment on it as the issue is related to a foreign country.
However, he said, �If India agrees to sell power to Bangladesh, then both sides need to erect High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) line since normal transmission line is not good enough to transmit power�. Only 11 km HVDC transmission line is required to link up Bangladesh with Tripura.
Here it may be recalled that Bangladesh has already approached the Government of India expressing willingness to buy power from Palatana power plant. However, Delhi is yet to take a final call on it.
