AGARTALA, Oct 4 (TIWN): Tripura’s unscheduled power cut remains high during the puja month across State. Although the situation is little better at Agartala but in other subdivisions the frequent power cuts are disrupting the normal lives affecting business ahead of Puja. Since Sunday morning power cut has made lives miserable in Agartala City & the continuous ups and down of power creating resentments among common men. In other subdivisions including Udaipur, South Dist, Northern Tripura everyday power disruptions have become daylong issues. Saturday's power cut in VM Hospital made newborn babies and mothers life miserable. Under Tripura's lameduck Power Minister Manik Dey, state is suffering from power-cut for whole day, says report.

Everyday with  some causes the power disruptions are being continued in state, whereas before 10 days of Puja, Capital City’s clubs are lighting the whole town.  However, last year also lightings began much earlier, but this year due to NEEPCO ‘s full shut down govt is unable to manage power surplus in state, even affecting the Capital City.

However, day by day Tripura’s power generation capacity is decreasing with the falling of ONGC to supply enough power to Monarchak. The condition of Palatana’s both units are not satisfactory as the 2nd unit often dies & maximum times Palatana’s 2nd unit do not work properly.

Recently NEEPCO General Manager Samir Ranjan Biswash told TIWN,  “ONGC failure to provide gas is delaying Monarchak power generation. Hopefully the power generation to start from December, as ONGC has recently said that before December they can not assure anything”.

However, Monarchak has already held several meetings with ONGC and tried to negotiate the issue, but  nothing came out as more 3 months ONGC demanded, he said. There is no problem with the turbines but it can only run if it gets sufficient amount of gas from ONGC, he added.

However, the issue of gas supplying bega when Tripura power dept was charged with many pending bills around 180 crores. After that time, the issue of NEEPCO shutdown began.

Northeast Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) had asked Northeast Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NERLDC) to snap power supply to Tripura from April 5 midnight until further order due to non-payment of huge outstanding bills. But again NEEPCO blessed Tripura people hearing Tripura Govt.’s plea to extend the time, for the pending bill, which crossed 180 crores.

 But after that although NEEPCO is ready to provide power to state, but ONGC has closed NEEPCO’s business till December month, resulting massive power crisis across state.