AGARTALA, April 17 – Alarmed by the recent power crisis, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has requested NEEPCO authority to install one more 21 MW unit at Ramchandranagar in West Tripura district at the earliest.

As of now, four units (21X4 MW) are operational at Ramchandranagar power project, which is considered as one of the best projects of the NEEPCO. The request came at a meeting between the ChiefMinister and top brass of NEEPCO including its Chairman cum Managing
Director (CMD) OP Barooah held at Civil Secretariat here on Friday.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister urged the NEEPCO CMD to add one more 21 MW power unit at Ramchandranagar to increase its installed capacity from 105 MW. He also assured that the State Government would render all possible help to the NEEPCO authority to set up the new unit.

Sources said, the Chief Minister has also assured the NEEPCO authority to ensure supply of required gas to add more unit there.

The State Government has already decided to establish a 21-MW power plant at Rukhia in West Tripura district to tide over the present crisis. Of the total cost, theState Government will contribute 50 per cent while the rest will be pumped in by the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL).

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also wanted to know about the progress of the 104 MW power project at Manarchak in West Tripura district. In reply, the CMD said that the NEEPCO has been doing its level best to get PIB approval by the end of this month.

When contacted, MS Jyrwa, Head of Project, Manarchak power project said that the Standing Committee for the project has already held a meeting on February 2. “The report of meeting has to be contained in the PIB report. We hope that PIB nod will be cleared within this month or first week of next month”, he said. The 104 MW power project has been passing through rough weather over the past six years with the NEEPCOauthority facing problems to commission the project on time.