AGARTALA, May 9 (TIWN): Despite gas based combined power cycle installed in Tripura with an aim to make the state shedding free, people across the state fumes over load shedding of power currently. However, following this Power Minister Manik Dey has written to the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to visit the state and take stock of the gloomy situation of power crisis, said Minister. Besides, on yet another major setback in power production, the Palatana Power Plant OTPC Unit –I is recently undergoing maintenance work as a result the power production from the combined power plant now decreases, said Power Minister Manik Dey recently. Asked about the reason for major load shedding across the state, Minister Manik Dey talking to the newsmen at the civil secretariat recently said, “I cannot deny to the fact that the entire state is facing load shedding but it is not major.” Adding he said, “ONGC is unable to supply sufficient gas to the power plants installed here in Tripura, as there is some technical problems.” “Rukhia, Baramura, Monarchak at Sonamura, Ramchandranagar and Palatana are facing crisis of gas from ONGC as a result the power production from the plants has decreased recently.”Minister also said that due to insufficient gas from the ONGC the power plants installed here in the state are unable to meet the demand of power. However later adding to that Dey said, “The department has already pushed the ONGC to take a stock of their technical problem in their gas supply soon and provide gas to the power plants to resolve the power crisis.”

Minister also said that due to the lack of gas the Palatana Power plant Unit-II is currently able to supply only 250MW-300MW, Baramura is currently supplying 30MW-35MW, Rukhia only 45MW-50MW.

“Following the less production from the power plants here in the state the state is yet dependent on other states to bring power of at least 40MW to 45MW,” adding Dey said, “Due to this problem we have to give load shedding for only 45 minutes, but the problems would be resolved soon after the Palatana OTPC starts full generation of power from its both the unit.”

Tripura state electricity corporation (TSECL) is now under constraint to enforce frequent load shedding to deal with shortage of power available from the power plants installed here.