104 MW gas-based power project to be set up in Tripura

Agartala, Nov 15 (UNI) The proposed 104 MW gas-based power project in Tripura, which was abondoned earlier, will be set up following the state government's continuous pressure on the Union Government.

All the prepratory works has been almost finalised by the North-Eastern Power Corporation (NEPCO) to set up the power project at Monarchak in the West District.

Now the project is awaiting the Cabinet committee of Economic Affairs's(CCEA) approval.

NEPCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director(CMD) M R Ghosh arrived here yesterday and held meetings with state Power Minister Manik Dey in this regard yesterday at the secretariat here, where other officials of the corporation were also present.

The project was declared "abandoned" by the Union Government showing various reasons after foundation stone laying of Palatana in South district gas-based project by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year. Earlier, it was decided that a 280 MW gas-based power project would be set up at Monarchak for which preliminery works had been done by the NEPCO.

The NEPCO CMD hoped that the CCEA's clearance would be available within March 31 next year and the project would be completed within 28 months. The total cost for this project would be Rs 4.47 crore.

NEPCO would bear the cost of the construction work of the 104 gas-based proposed project. The ONGC, Tripura Project have assured to supply 0.5 cubic metre gas to the plant at the rate it would supply to Palatana.

The state Power Minister, after yesterday's meeting with the NEPCO authorities, informed that the state government would purchase the total amount of power.

Mr Dey and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had met the Centre and put pressure to revive the project. Mr Sarkar has also met the Union Petroleum and Power Ministers in New Delhi on October 25 in this regard.

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