AGARTALA, Nov 24 (TIWN): Not long ago, in front of President Pranab during OTPC Unit I inauguration and during OTPC Unit II inauguration by PM Modi, Tripura Chief Minister loudly promised to make Tripura a load-shedding state. However, after those long promises many years have been passed, and the words of Chief Minister is still a dream for the people of Tripura. According to the sources, on Nov 27 India and Bangladesh would ink an agreement regarding power-supply/selling to Bangladesh, starting with 100 MW from OTPC Palatana Power Plant. Talking to TIWN, Minister Manik Dey said that the tariff for 100MW unit of power transmission to Bangladesh will be decided in that Nov 27 meeting. Recently, Technical Director of TSECL (Tripura State Electric Supply Corp) M K Chowdhury also told media the same. However, within all these hoopla and publicity campaigns by Manik Sarkar’s corrupt govt, what the general public of Tripura got after all from Palatana?

It seems that Tripura has many power plants on paper, but this State is one of the worst sufferers from continuous load-sheddings. Although Tripura Govt. gave land for  OTPC Palatana Power Plant, and kept on blaming this plant for insufficient power supplying to state, but in reality, OTPC Palatana 100MW Power sale to neighboring country going to bring profit for CPI-M, even though Tripura still under darkness due to frequent load-shedding.

Minister Manik Dey, while talking to TIWN on Monday said that the transmission work needs time to finish, although even after the inking of the Indo-Bangla agreement. The progress of works the 47 km long 400 kv high tension wire from Suryamaninagar power sub-station to Bangladesh for transportation of power is yet to be done, he added.  

Earlier, while TSECL MD Shyamal Roy talking to TIWN, CMD confirmed that there are over Rs. 100 crores due amounts  pending from Tripura govt. to these Plants based in Tripura. Although Tripura Govt. gave lands to Palatana Plant, but due to this debt of crores, TSECL is filled with various problems. Now question arises, whether Tripura is under such huge debts, then how Manik Sarkar will fulfill his “Empty-Promises”?

Only few days of Durga Puja that the people of Tripura can enjoy the load-shedding free times, otherwise during the years even in Capital city too, load-shedding is a common issue and candles at home is one of the basic necessary equipments.