Strengthen power transmission system in NE : Minister

Agartala, Aug 9 (UNI) The Tripura government has urged the Centre to address issues pertaining to smooth operation and management of North East's power system as well as harmonious development of power transmission to meet growing challenges.

Addressing the 6th meeting of Northeastern Regional Power Ministers' Committee (NRPMC) yesterday in Gurgoan, Haryana, Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey demanded strengthening the transmission system of upcoming power projects--Pallatana (740 MW) and Monarchak (104 MW) in Tripura, Subansiri Lower (2000 MW) and Kameng Hydro Electricity Project (600 MW) in Arunachal Pradesh and Bongaigaon thermal power project (750 MW) in Assam with the funding of 90:10 ratio.

Mr Dey also urged The Centre to support NRPMC to make NE's power system economic, efficient and reliable in the backdrop of national objective 'Power for all by 2012'.

He pointed out that NRPMC had already forwarded the demand to the North Eastern Council (NEC) and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) to erect transmission line up to Bongaigaon, Assam from Pallatana and the forthcoming NRPMC meeting would discuss the issue.

Mr Dey also appreciated the decision of the power Ministry to reallocate share among NE states while cancelling the allocation bid of Delhi and Haryana and the highest amount of power(245 MW) would be given to Assam followed by Tripura(200 MW). Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram would get 81 MW, 43 MW, 27 MW, 22 MW and 22 MW respectively out of 740 MW project.

Power from Pallatana project was initially meant to be allocated to Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi (100 MW each) in the northern region and to Assam and Tripura (100 MW each) in the northeastern region. However, the power Ministry had subsequently decided to allocate all power generated from the project to the NER states.

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