AGARTALA, May 26 (TIWN): OTPC, Palatna the biggest power plant of its kind was setup in the North eastern state of Tripura with aim to make the state load shedding free. But what makes the story interesting in that yet today since after its setup the Left ruled state has failed to receive enough power from Palatana power plant to meet the demands. But the real entity for the state yet today facing power crisis has come to limelight with the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd. (TSECL) is allegedly reluctant to buy additional power from the Palatana power plant, as a result power shortage has hit the state in summer's peak season. According to the highly placed source of the power department TSECL some way or other refused to buy power from the plant more than 70 MW. To restrict any kind of loss to the ambitious project the Palatana Power plant is currently not taking any heavy load to the turbines of both Unit – I and unit – II, said the source. It has been also reported that Palatana is going through no technical faults and is in a position to run both the units at a time with full load, but due to no significant demand of power from the state as well as a from other north eastern states, less power is being generated. Here it may be noted that TSECL had inked power purchase agreement with both OTPC and NEEPCO to buy allocated power but this has now turned bleak to the power condition of the state.Frequent loadshedding across Tripura in this summer season causing enormous sufferings for State's population.

There was a time the Palatana power plant has come to daily headline news with a complaint that it has failed to produce sufficient power as agreed. Though of course, the plant had passed through several hurdles due to the problems with the gas being supplied by the ONGC.

The source said, “TSECL is reluctant to buy additional power from Palatana plant despite the fact that the state needs extra power to tide over the power shortage.” It has been learnt that Palatana power plant is not running the turbine with full load since there is no buyer from the state as well as form the other north eastern States. The states which were supposed to purchase power from the biggest power plant at Udaipur Palatana are not buying power from it as they do not require power currently.

Interestingly couple of days back when asked about the reason of the power crisis TSECL Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) Sunil Kumar Roy blaming the Palatana OTPC said, “Due to some minor technical faults in the power generation unit at Palatana, the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd. (TSECL) is unable to take power from the plant.” The CMD of TSECL assured that power-cut timing will be reduced once the power plants start generating power as per the target.

In rural areas, longer hours of load-shedding are in force to make up for the shortfall in the availability of power. The situation is worsened by the growing demand for power as the sweltering summer months arrived. Tripura is facing serious load-shedding problem due to drop of supply from within state. Life and business has been largely affected due to power cuts enforced for hours every day and Load shedding in Tripura has made life miserable.

Besides, Power Minister Manik Dey has already written a letter to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas requesting to ensure sufficient supply of natural gas to run two gas power projects keeping in mind the power shortage here at the state.