When ONGC decided to set up the 727-MW (2 X 363.3) gas-based power project at Palatana in Tripura, transporting the heavy plant and machinery to the hilly land-locked State was considered to be the main hurdle.
Years later, ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) is faced with a new reality.
It was relatively easier to solve the complex transportation puzzle – which among other things required extension of an international water transport treaty between India and Bangladesh and huge investments in infrastructure in both the countries – than securing the forest clearances for drawing the transmission line within the country.
According to sources, the implementation of the Rs 2,400-crore power plant is progressing on schedule and the first unit of 363.3 MW will be ready for generation as early as December.
However, the 650-km transmission system – connecting Tripura to the regional grid at Bongaigaon in Assam through Meghalaya – is running far behind the scheduled deadline of November.
The Rs 1,800-crore project is being implemented by North East Power Transmission Company (NEPTC), a joint venture between OTPC, Power Grid and the beneficiary States.
Considering the low demand (200 MW peak demand) scenario in Tripura, investments in OTPC will remain largely idle till the 400 kv transmission line is in place.
“Delay in securing forest clearance has delayed the transmission project inordinately and unless it is in place we will never be able to run the power plant in full load,” a source told Business Line .
According to information available with the Department of North Eastern Region (DoNER), the project, initiated in 2009, has had a bumpy ride right from the beginning. Initially there was delay on the part of Assam and Meghalaya governments to grant the in-principle forest clearances which were finally obtained in early 2010. Since then the project is awaiting clearance of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Comments were not available from PowerGrid, which is playing a lead role in laying the transmission line.
Sources said that even if the clearance is available immediately, construction activities cannot be expedited before the end of the rainy season.
Meanwhile, OTPC expects to get the full set of key equipment of both the units of 363 MW by the end of this month.
“The main (boiler-turbine) packages of the first unit of OTPC has began its journey from Ashugunj port in Bangladesh to Palatana in Tripura in end March. It was received by the Chief Minister of Tripura at the Indian border in April and is now in close to the project site,” an ONGC source said.
“The equipment for the second unit is scheduled to start its journey to Ashugunj from Machilipatnam port in Andhra Pradesh this week. It will reach the Bangladeshi port in the third week of May,” a source said.
Ashugunj is less than 100 km from the project site.