MANARCHAK, (Sonamura), June 19 (TIWN): Clearing all doubts, the NEEPCO authority today reiterated the Monarchak power plant would be commissioned two months after receiving the gas, the main fuel for the project.We have already done pre-commissioning works at Palatana plant and whatever works are left could be undertaken only after charging of gas to the Gas Turbine, said Head of Project (HoP), Manarchak power project SR Biswas at a press conference today.

Flanked by his two deputies- Bijit Goswami and DC Das, the HoP said the GT of Manarchak project was made ready in September, last year for commencing commissioning activities. It was put on record that after receipt of NEEPCO would require around two months time to synchronize the gas turbine on open cycle mode.

Biswas clarified all works related to GT have been done barring some finger adjustment works which will be carried out during commissioning activities subsequent to receipt of gas.

Referring to the ONGC’s view on the preparedness, the NEEPCO official said, “The fire fighting system has already been established inside the project premises while 132 KV power sub-station has also been charged. Remaining works could be done only after getting gas for the project”.

Asserting that the NEEPCO will welcome any independent agency for inspection, the HoP said it was the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) that had cleared the Manarchak project on open mode. “The ONGC has no authority to intervene the matter of readiness of the NEEPCO project. They should concentrate on their own works rather than commenting on NEEPCO’s works”, he said.

Initially, the NEEPCO had prepared DPR to set up a 500 MW gas based power generation project at Monarchak way back in 2003. Later, the installed capacity was reduced to 280 MW and lastly it was reduced to only 101 MW after the ONGC failed to assure sufficient gas supply to NEEPCO.

Due to delay in project implementation, the estimated cost of the project has been increased from Rs. 623.44 crore (Nov 2009) to Rs. 949.86 crore (Dec. 2013).