AGARTALA, Oct 11 (TIWN): Despite of several tall claims by the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), the state is facing serious load shedding problem due to drop of supply of gas to the major power plants of the state. The daily life of the citizens in the state has been affected due frequent power cuts. Sometimes the power cut enforce for long one hour every day.It has to be mentioned that the corporation where claims to ensure load shedding free Durga Puja on the other hand the frequent power cut creating misery for the people of the state.However, according to sources it has been alleged that the disruption in the power supply are mostly occurring due to the gas deficit.Load shedding might hit Durga puja as an unit of the Palatana power plant, gas-based power project in South Tripura District went on shut down.As the state receives maximum power from the Palatana power plant, power crisis might hit during durga puja.The current power demand in the state stands at 250 MW. However, with ONGC failing to provide adequate gas to Palatana the state might face deficit of power during the puja days.Earlier, the state used to procure power from Meghalaya and Mizoram.As per last year’s data, Assam gets 120 MW, Meghalya 39.5 MW, Manipur 21 MW, Nagaland 13.5 MW, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram get 11 MW each from the first unit of Palatana plant.At present, State own production is low from Baramura plant, Rokia plant and from Dumbur hydro project. Under this circumstance the power supply during Durga Puja likely to get affected.The ONGC has started supplying gas from October 5 to Monarchak power plant and Monarchak was able to produce a power of 37 Megawatt round the clock till Thursday morning but the sudden crisis of gas supply from ONGC has disrupted the power generation.

However, the 101 MW gas-based Monarchak power plant in Sipahijala district at Sonamura sub-division has resume power production after ONGC managed to resume its gas supply to Monarchak power plant.

According to the highly placed official source, currently the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) managed to resume its gas supply to Monarchak power plant after the Palatana power unit has undergone shutdown.  

ONGC is able to supply the gas to Monarchak only because currently one of the units of Palatana power plant is undergoing shutdown.

In a recent meeting with the officials of ONGC, TSECL and others it has not been confirmed yet whether ONGC will continue supplying gas to Monarchak after October 15 or not.