AGARTALA, May 5 (TIWN): Ill-fated Manarchak power project is unlikely to be commissioned by October as the Engineers India Ltd (EIL), public-sector undertaking is yet to take up the undone work of another company.ONGC sources said the though the EIL has agreed to take up the incomplete work but the procedural works came on the way of taking up the task. The EIL, a government of India undertaking company, has no experience in working here. Besides, some technical aspects need to be examined by the EIL before undertaking the job.

 “We can’t say when the EIL will take up the work of pipeline laying work to supply natural gas to the project. Even top brass of the ONGC has been doing its level best to complete the work at the earliest but one has to understand everything is not in our hand”, said a senior ONGC official tonight.

According to sources, the ONGC might offer an alternative proposal to NEEPCO authority in order the commission the project within next two to three months. If NEEPCO agrees on the alternative proposal, then the project could be started generating power by next few months. Now the ball is on the NEEPCO’s court.

If NEEPCO wants to have pipeline with all facilities, then laying of pipeline will take at least one year that will further delay the project escalating project cost.  

Gas turbine of Manarchak thermal project was supposed to kick start by September last year but it has not happened due to various reasons. Though initial costing of the project was Rs. 620 crores, price escalation with the passage of time has finally pegged at estimated cost at Rs. 960 crores.