AGARTALA, Dec 25 (TIWN): Although the optical fibre cable connecting work is almost completed for the power transmission but the power tariff for the transmission is yet to be decided, says power minister Manik Dey. Talking to TIWN correspondent on Thursday, power Minister Manik Dey said that the power tariff is yet to be decided and a meeting will be held shortly to decide the tariff.

However, it is to be mentioned here that Bangladesh is likely to start receiving power in full swing from January. Power Minister Manik Dey further said that a meeting is scheduled to be held very shortly between the representatives of Bangladesh and India to decide the tariff over power transmission.

Although to mark the deadline on Bijoy Diwas, the PGCIL has carried out the testing charge of 17.3 KM power transmission, but Power Minister Manik Dey said that to begin the Power transmission to Bangladesh in full swing needs much more time. Despite of finalising the final tariff for power transmission to Bangladesh, it was decided to supply power to Bangladesh by December 16.

It is to be mentioned here that though the transmission lines were charged up to supply 100 MW power to Bangladesh but the transmission in full swing can began only after the successful trial run is conducted in Bangladesh. However Bangladesh has also charged up its 27 km higher power transmission line.

 Minister Manik Dey further said that although power tariff has not been finalized yet, this could be done after charging of the 400 KV double circuit transmission line connecting Suryamaninagar substation to South Comilla substation in Bangladesh.

The Centre in consultation with the Tripura government had decided to sell 100MW after the Bangladesh government allowed free transhipment of heavy turbines for the 726.6MW Palatana thermal power plant.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had raised the issue during her visit to Tripura in January 2012 and pressed for power sale from Palatana to her country.

For power transmission and supply, 47km of power cable lines are being set up to connect Surjyamani Nagar in southern Agartala with southern part of Comilla town in Bangladesh. In Tripura, there will be 17km of transmission lines while the remaining 29km lines will be within Bangladesh.

In Tripura, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has laid the transmission lines while in the neighbouring country a local company has carried out the work.