By: Debraj Deb ( Bureau Chief-ICN Tripura)
AGARTALA: Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey alleged at a meeting of power ministers from NE Indian states that the Ministry of Power had deprived the NE while sanctioning centrally sponsored schemes like the IPDS and DDUGJY.
Tripura had submitted DPR under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) for Rs. 903.01 crore for electrifying uncovered habitations for covering 100 percent households including quality power supply to rural areas.
The sanctioned amount was barely Rs. 74.12 crores, which would suffice for 8.21 percent of the total requirement.
The state had submitted DPR of Rs. 510.16 crore for renovation, augmentation and strengthening of urban power distribution systems under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). The Ministry sanctioned Rs. 74.24 crores which would provide for 14.55 percent of the total requirement.
Power Minister Dey said with the meager sanctions in projected power projects, Tripura would never be able to fulfill the target of 100 percent coverage on power distribution. He sought the centre’s favour to sanction the proposed amount in both projects.
The minister further demanded speedy fund sanction and release for completion of power project construction and upgradation to avoid escalation of project costs that later on are passed on to consumers.
Speaking at the 18th North East Regional Power Committee meeting at Shillong yesterday, Dey said that Tripura had placed a number of proposals for upgrading power projects in the state.
“We had submitted Detailed Project Report (DPRs) for conversion of Rukhia and Baramura open cycle project into combined cycle projects. Proposals were sent for modernization and renovation of the Gumti hydro electric project”, Dey told reporters citing his speech at the power ministers’ meet. A comprehensive DPR of Rs. 552.60 crores was sent to the Minister of DoNER, he said adding that there was no response from the centre.
On the issue of the proposed inter-regional power transmission network that would connect Tripura with Bangladesh via Bheramara frontier of West Bengal, the minister said that establishment of connectivity with Bangladesh and finally the national grid would not only provide upgraded connectivity in transmission system but also reduce line length in dense forests and undulated terrains.
The southern part of NER Grid that involve Tripura, Southern Assam, Manipur and Mizoram are reported to be frequently affected by power tripping of 400 KV and 132 KV transmission lines.
