AGARTALA, Oct 2 (TIWN): With the 6 days shutdown of Tripura’s largest plant OTPC Palatana, once again State plunged into grave darkness affecting lakhs of households statewide. Talking to TIWN on Thrusday, Power Minister Manik Dey said that presently only 3 Plants are running at Tripura. These plants are Dumboor, Rokhia, Baramura Plants. However Tripura’s largest power plant OTPC is suffering from continuous shutdowns due to lack of ONGC gas and the other power plants are running half-dead since decades. Manik Dey told TIWN that plants in Tripura running in deplorable condition but with the OTPC’s shutdown from Sep 29, power generation has hit at extreme low. Minister also said, since many years of him handling Tripura’s Power Ministry so far, Govt has failed to convince Public Sector companies to control the situations, also Minister claimed that these public sector companies are responsible for frequent load-shedding and Govt has little control over the technical problems caused by ONGC, OTPC and NEEPCO. Power Minister mentioned that due to various technical problems, plants are suffering mostly due to ONGC ‘s insufficient gas supply.

But Manik Dey also told TIWN on Thursday that, “Although Palatana is in scheduled shutdown but 3 more plants are running amongst whom Dumboor is running pretty well”. Dey tried to cover Palatana shutdown by taking Baramura Plant’s name, whether Baramura Plant, in reality is generating not even 30 MW also, though it was to supposed to produce 42 MW.

The Rokhia Plant is also running same. The Rokhia and Baramura gas-based power plants in Tripura was tow converted into the combined cycle mode to generate additional power without using extra fuel, but the present condition of both the plants are so miserable that their productions are insufficient to offset even partial load-sheddings in Tripura.

However, a little relief seemed to come with the water-level increase at Dumboor lake, but all these are temporary and depends upon the weather. During the dry season Dumboor becomes miserable. OTPC was established in Tripura by destroying a huge forest area with the promise of a load-shedding free state.

In reality miserable power scenario did not change in Tripura – Prime Ministers, President came for inauguration, also Tripura’s CM Manik Sarkar boasted with all kind of promises of load-shedding free state but all those hollow promises turning out to be utter lies.

But here in Tripura Govt. started many projects with lots of promises and visions, but after few days of passage public losing their hopes. If Plants continue like this, may be during the Puja again Govt. has to buy extra power from neighbouring states.

Also the NEEPCO, which is working on commissioning 101-MW gas-based thermal power plant at Monarchak is undergoing with similar issue of “No Progress” due to ONGC gas supply problems, so that NE state Tripura would get a relief from continuous load-shedding.