UDAIPUR, July 28(TIWN): In view of the present power crisis facing the state Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has urged the OTPC high officials and North Eastern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NERLDC) to postpone the scheduled shutdown from 3rd August to 18th August. At present Tripura is having a power deficit of around 60-65MW per day mainly due to the technical snag in the 9th unit of Rukhia plant. And on this situation OTPC's shutdown would mean real crisis for the entire state.

 Accordingly TSECL has approached to the higher officials of OTPC and NERLDC, said TSECL CMD Shyamal Kumar Roy on a telephonic conversation with TIWN correspondent. CMD said," We have no other option but to go for power cuts on rotational basis. The peak hour demand of power in the state is 235-240MW but Tripura's internal production has reduced considerably and this due to zero production in Rukhia. Hopefully OPTC will assist with us. "According to TIWN's OTPC sources the OPTC and NERLDC have already responded positively and postponed the scheduled shut to begin from 3rd August.

 A top level OTPC officer told TIWN over telephone, "The plant was scheduled to go for a complete shutdown from 3rd August due to Major Inspection in the gas turbine of Unit-I. But OTPC and NERLDC has postponed the scheduled programme for the time being and now it seems that the shutdown won't begin before 15th August. Currently Unit-I is generating 350MW (at 7pm on Monday)"

On Sunday CMD TSECL told TIWN correspondent over telephone," We have asked the OTPC to start generation from the Unit-II of Palatana plant. Because even at this crisis TSECL is getting 90-95MW from OTPC. If the Unit-II starts working we won't have any problem of power shortage. "Reacting to this statement an OTPC top level official told," Considering the present situation Unit-II is unlikely to start generation before Durga Puja.

 He said ONGC has assured to supply gas from the end of August and if it is done then BHEL engineers will begin the work on Unit-II. But even then it will take minimum one and half month to complete all the necessary arrangements. Only then the 72 hours long and compulsory trail run on full load (363.3MW) will commence and it is successful, BHEL will declare the Unit-II ready for 'Commercial Generation.'