AGARTALA, Dec 6 (TIWN): Tripura's multiple public sector run power plants NEEPCO, OTPC in addition to State Govt run plants which might given the rosy picture to Manik Sarkar to announce State's status as a ‘Load-Shedding-Free state’. But the Power Minister Manik Dey on Monday warned the state for a dark future as the plants are incapable to produce enough amount of power surplus because 90% of the generated power sold off to other states. Manik Dey said the decreasing yearly rain is one of the chief reason behind the condition of Tripura, which resulting low voltage, more load-shedding. “The lessening rain in Tripura is badly affecting Tripura power production. Coal has a limitation, also it’s costly. So people have to start power saving to avoid frequent load-shedding”, said Dey. “Hook like is disease in the state, which is another cause of Tripura’s huge power misuse”, Dey added.

OTPC Palatana's massive 723 MW Power Plant's majority of produced power is sold off to other NoerhEastern States and Bangladesh. Even though Tripura's peak load requirement is a mere 200 to 230 MW but Manik Sarkar's Govt unable to provide that basic necessity of load-shedding free State to hapless people.

However, Tripura govt is much concerned about how to save power as crores and crores are pending as debts for Tripura Power Dept.The amount has crossed Rs. 250 crores, it was declared by the power Minister himself. “If plan-wise we expense power then it will save our money and also it will lessen the load-shedding rate”, he said.

Power Minister further advised that people should make their homes scientifically so that during day time sunlight comes and no need of lights. But whereas he claimed that hooklines are available in Tripura, but what step will be taken against hook lines, he was totally silent about it. May be thinking about CPI-M’s vote banks at rural Tripura nothing is done by the state govt in this regard. He ended with a call for “awareness against hook lines’.

“Tripura people can easily save power and the power cost is much low here, so it can easily manage the bill-amount per month”, claimed Manik Dey. 

However, to hide Tripura’s power deficiency Manik Dey further said, in India every plants are facing disruptions. ‘Whereas the power target is 65,185 MW, but it ends by 30,070 MW production only. There are 25-40 % of commercial loss for the distributor-companies resulting a total debt of 1.50 lakhs crores of debt”. 

Blaming the Central Govt. he said, “There is an Udayan scheme under Central Govt.  and Tripura Govt asked to help it with the scheme but due to the Central Govt’s lack of cooperation the state govt had to take Rs. 250 crores of loans from United Bank of India with 9.90 rupees of loan.

He further gave example of Monarchak power plant which failed to produce any power till day even after 14 years of settling. 

However, the state govt is planning for solar plants, said Dey. He also announced that at Gandacherra a 6 MW solar plant will be introduced which will serve in day time with 5 MW and at night 1 MW, he said, 

However, Manik Dey’s long lecture and the failure of utilizing power generation was enough to understand that Tripura will not become ‘load-shedding-free-state’ in coming years. 

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's tall claims & lies continue but 'load-shedding' has signs to end.