Agartala, March 21 (TIWN): NEEPCO’ s Chairman cum Managing Director PC Pankaj speaking to reporters at secretariat on Friday claimed that the 101 MW Monarchak plant is almost ready after ONGC’s assurance of supplying gas by March.

“If gas supply ensured by ONGC ensures  by March, it will take only two months to undertake commercial operation of the proposed power plant”, CMD said.

Regarding being asked about the status of power purchase he stated an agreement was signed about  power purchase deal with the state government. It will decide the tariff and whom it wants to sale power.

The project of the ill-fated power project has been increased to Rs. 1000 crore from Rs. 634 crore due to delay in commissioning the plant escalating per unit cost to Rs. 4.15, he added

Earlier the CMD held a meeting with Power Minister Manik Dey and other top official of TSECL, reviewed the latest status of the Monarchak power plant.In the meeting, the Power Minister asked the NEEPCO CMD to commission the Monarchak power plant at the earliest keeping in mind of cost escalation in the project cost..

It is mentionable here that  a company- Tripura Power Generation Company Ltd has been constituted to upgrade three power projects- Barmura, Rukhia and Dumbur in which the state government will have 90 percent stake while the NEEPCO will have only 10 percent share.Former OTPC Managing Director SK Dube has been appointed as advisor of the newly floated company.