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Tripura reeling under power crisis

By Correspondent

AGARTALA, July 28 � Power situation continues to remain grim in Tripura as two power generation units are yet to put on operation, official sources confirmed.

Two power units at Rukhia in Sipajijala district are still placed under shut down due to technical fault and BHEL engineers are trying hard to resume power generation from two units, said an official of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) here on Monday.

Even as Barmura thermal power project is on operation, it could not generate power at par with the installed capacity. The Barmura power project is supposed to produce 42 MW power but now it is generating only 35 MW leading to shortage of power in the State.

However, Palatana power plant is producing 340/350 MW power which is expected level taking into consideration of its installed capacity. As of now, the Palatana power project will remain in operation keeping in mind of the power shortage in the entire North-east region.

�We have sought permission from Northeast Regional Power Committee (NERPC) to shut down first unit of Palatana power project to undertake �routine� checking. But we have not received any positive signal from the NERPC as the power situation in the entire region is grim�, said OTPC Managing Director SK Dube over telephone from New Delhi on Monday.

It means Palatana power plant will remain on operational until the overall power situation improves in the North-east region. The second unit of Palatana power plant is expected to be operation by September with gas pipe laying works are in full swing.

In the State, the overall power deficit stands at 67 MW with the State receiving 105 MW power from Central Pool. And the State�s own production reduced to only 63 MW due to shut down of two units at Rukhia for the past few days. According to sources, it will take another eight to ten days to put two power units at Rukhia on operation.

�We have no option but to go for power cut to augment the power shortage across the State. The power cut period is one and half hours�, said the official. However, reports from subdivisions claims power situation is still grim with people experiencing at least two hour load shedding making their life miserable amid sweltering heat.

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