AGARTALA, May 24 (TIWN): Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) is heading for huge loss for the 2013-14 FY too putting a question mark on the revival plan. The net loss of the TSECL could be cross Rs. 150 crore last financial year (2013-14) though final figure is yet to be ascertained, according to highly placed sources. In the years 2010-11 and 2011-12, the net loss of TSECL had suffered Rs. 95.79 crore and Rs. 120.32 crore respectively while it stood Rs. 132.27 crore for the year 2012-13.

The huge loss in the TSECL has pushed a panic button among the officials of TSECL. A series of meetings fell short to address the problem.     

The unstable power supply, hike in the natural gas, abrupt hike in the maintenance cost have emerged a major problems for the corporation. Besides, unrealized bills (Rs. 121.83 crore), transmission loss and power theft have appeared a challenge for the TSECL.

“The main problem lies with the huge burden of non-plant expenditure and hike in the gas price. We had approached the Centre to increase in the ceiling of subsidy in the gas price but it yields no result”, said one of the top TSECL officials here today.

For him many TSECL officials don’t feel revised tariff would reduce the loss in power sector. “We are still supplying power to consumers at price of Rs. 6.34 per unit, which is very low rate even in the NE region states”, he pointed out.

Of late Power Minister Manik Dey had meeting with TSECL authority to review the overall situation in the power sector. “The picture was really grim unless major revival plan is put in place. If the present trend continues, TSECL will surely face the same problem what another PSU- TRTC is facing”, he warned.

However, Palatana thermal power plant will have a positive impact in the ailing power sector in Tripura if it supplies power to the TSECL at par expected level. Selling of power to outside the state could be a viable option for TSECL to address the problems, he added.