AGARTALA, June 10 � Keeping in view the power shortage in the Northeast region, the NEEPCO would increase power generation from 1130 to 2,000 MW by March 2016 next.
(CMD) NEEPCO PC Pankaj, who arrived here to review the proposed Manarchak power plant in Sipahijala district, met Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Power Minister Manik Dey at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday and discussed various issues related to the plant.
After the meetings, he told media the NEEPCO is on the process to enhance power generation from 1130 MW to 2000 MW power by March 2016. �Now, we are producing 1130 MW power which is almost 40 percent power generation in the Northeast region. Altogether five power projects are in the pipeline which could produce more than 800 MW power by March 2016�, he said.
Besides, the Mizoram government has cleared DPR for three power projects, while the NEEPCO is going to ink a Memorandum of Understanding with Manipur government very soon for taking up four power plants, he said.
Pankaj said the 101MW Manarchak power plant is likely to be commissioned by December next, with the ONGC working hard to lay the gas pipeline within the stipulated time.
�The 101 MW power plant is ready for operation since September last year, but could not be commissioned as the oil giant- ONGC failed to supply gas to the plant�, he said.
The NEEPCO is going to join hands with Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) to increase power generation of power in the existing projects in Tripura. �We are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TSECL to increase power generation at Rukhia and Barmura gas thermal power plants on June 21�, he said.
The joint venture comprising NEEPCO and TSECL will also increase the power generation of state�s lone hydro electric plant at Dumbur from 7 MW to 16 MW. �All the three projects would cost around Rs. 320 crore and the expenditure will be shared by the NEEPCO and the TSECL�, he added.
