Four power projects to be commissioned in NE by 2012

Agartala, Oct 26 (UNI) The Centre has decided to commission four proposed power projects in the Northeastern region by 2012, Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh said today.

Mr Ramesh, who arrived here to inaugurate an office of ONGC Tripura Power Corporation Ltd (OTPC) at Palatana in South Tripura district, told reporters that all the four power projects in the Northeast, including 740 MW power plant at Palatana, would be operational by 2012.

The remaining three power projects are 2,000 MW and 600 MW plants in Arunachal Pradesh and 750 MW power plant at Bongaigaon in Assam.

Construction work of the Palatana power project, the single largest investment in the Northeastern region, is expected to be over by December, 2011 and the plant will be operational by April, 2012.

''We are determined to implement the project on schedule,'' he said, adding that the ONGC has already undertaken massive exploration drive in Tripura to feed the mega power project.

When asked how the heavy equipment will be transported to the Palatana project, 60 km from Agartala, Mr Ramesh said earlier it was proposed to bring the equipment through Bangladesh.

''But Dhaka has rejected the proposal, saying that the policy of the Bangladesh government does not permit it,'' he said.

''Now we are planning to bring the heavy equipment through the Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-44) by improving the road condition,'' the Union Minister for state added.

When asked about the fate of the proposed 104 MW power project at Manarchak in West Tripura district, he said it will also be implemented by 2012.

''The much awaited approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for the power project will be received within the next 45 days,'' he said.

The North Eastern Electricity Power Corporation (NEEPCO) had initiated the project in 2002 but it has not yet been implemented.

UNI XC DPM KK AKJ HT1734