AGARTALA, Dec 20 (TIWN): Power crisis is looming large in Tripura for the past two days with the suspension of generation in Palatana, Northeast’s biggest gas-based combine cycle and world’s largest clean energy plant Palatana in South Tripura. With the report of sudden technical snag, the unit I of the Palatana Power plant has once again shut down from Saturday evening resulting massive load shedding in the state. However, it is to be mentioned here that OTPC’s Second unit of Palatana is under complete shut down since past 15 days due to the shortage of gas supply from ONGC and the technical snag in the unit I has resulted unintentional shut down of both the units of the Palatana Power Plant.The sources further said that there is no assurances that when will the Palatana power plant again resume power production.However, the maintenance work is underway at the plant, said the source.Second unit has stopped generation last night because of technical difficulties in the turbine.The Sudden shutdown of both the unit in commercial generation brought the state into severe shortage of power supply that resulted in long and frequent load-shedding for the past 24 hours. ONGC has been supplying 2.65 million metric standard cubic metres of gas per day to the plant as per the agreement signed between both the parties for next 25 years. Adding to that OTPC with the stakes of all other Northeastern states and power grid corporation, had erected 661 kms 400 KV double circuit transmission line up to Bongaigoan for evacuation of power from Palatana.

Palatana has been registered on May 15 last year with United Nations as the biggest project of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the world as per Kyoto Protocol. From each credit of carbon is equal to one metric ton of saleable carbon-di-oxide, which is cost approximately 12 US dollar of each credit.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’s failure to manage power situation in Tripura due to lack of advance planning and management once again proved with the OTPC plant, the single largest plant once again was shut down from last Saturday.

Prior to few days, Unit one was shut down due to the due to the lack of the gas supply from ONGC and Unit two was shut down fromSaturday due to technical snag resulting shut down in the plant.

 One the one hand where the CM Manik Sarkar claims about a power surplus state and boost about the power transmission project, now question arise from where will the state supply power to  Bangladesh if it can’t even meet the demand of the state.