AGARTALA, December 24 (TIWN): Mizoram and Meghalaya – the two Christian dominated states to celebrate Christmas this year taking additional power from Tripura. Power-surplus Tripura has started supplying electricity to neighboring states Mizoram and Meghalaya for smooth celebration of Christmas.Tripura’s another gas-based thermal power project of 102 MW targets to generate power by the month of March 2015 by North East Power Corporation (NEEPCO) at Monarchak in Sipahijala district, said Power Minister Manik Dey today talking to TIWN. Talking to TIWN today Minister Manik Dey said that the ONGC is looking forward to supply gas to the Monarchak Power plant by the month of January 2015, while the NEEPCO targets to generate power from Monarchak by the month of March 2015, if everything goes well with the plant.

After the formal commissioning of the 363.3-MW gas-based combine cycle power project at Palatana in South Tripura, the state is expected to get another 101 MW from a plant in Monarchak in West Tripura next month, making it the highest power-surplus state in the country.

Tripura had already started supplying power to the two states – Mizoram and Meghalaya from last Saturday and would continue till January 2. According to the officials Tripura is supplying 15 MW power to Mizoram and 20 MW to Meghalaya.

After the inauguration of the 726-MW gas-based thermal power project at Palatana, Tripura became a power-surplus state and requested the Cente to sell 100 MW power to Bangladesh from its quota as the later allowed its water and road ways for carrying the over dimensional machines of the power project.

An MoU signed between NEEPCO and the Tripura government in 2002 says the state will be purchasing a total of 101 MW power from Monarchak.

Power Minister Manik Dey said that after the power generation from the Monarchak , the total power generation of the state will be 384 MW. The state shall be able to sell at least 200 MW daily, making Tripura the state with the highest power surplus count in the country. He also said that another 75 MW will be added to the state's power accounts next year after the NEEPCO project in Rukhia is upgraded.