The Tripura government has embarked upon the biggest ever project in the state – an ambitious Rs 2, 275 crore power project -with the financial help from the Asian Development Bank, said Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma who is also the Power Minister of the state. The project titled as “Tripura Power Distribution Strengthening and Generation Efficiency Improvement Project’ is going to be the single largest project in Tripura which is expected to give a massive boost to the infrastructure development in the state. The project that aims at addressing and improving energy security, supply quality and efficient management in the power sector will come with the highest financial investment hitherto taken in the infrastructure sector, said Dev Varma in a press conference at the secretariat on Saturday. Secretary to Power department- Brijesh Pandey and MD TSECL Debashish Sarkar were with him.
The Deputy Chief Minister said, while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will extend the financial help of $220 million or Rs 1,820 crore as loan , the Tripura government will invest Rs 455 crore or $55 million in the project. Union government would bear a part of the ADB loan payment.
Project primarily envisages replacement of inefficient power plants, reduction of power loss in the supply network and also to cater to the increasing power demand of the consumers and thus give impetus to the state’s economy.
Recently, an agreement between the ADB and State government was signed in this regard which was signed by secretary to the Power Department Brijesh Pandey and Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission. Nilaya Mitash.
According to the Power minister after the implementation of the project around five to six lakhs consumers would be directly benefited. Besides, there would be around 6000 employment scopes.
One of the interesting part of the project with the ADB financial assistance is its social components which seeks to empower the women by engaging as many as 15 women run SHGs in various capacities.
“During the last five years more than Rs. 2000 crore was invested to strengthen the Power Sector Transmission and Distribution network in the State”.
“And we are going to invest about Rs. 3000 crore more in the next five years to make the power generation and distribution in the state more efficient and more effective”, said Dev Varma who also expressed his gratitude to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her support in bringing in the project in the state .
“It is her New Year gift to the people of Tripura”, he said.
The Project Targets ;
According to the official notes , Rokhia’s existing 63 MW (3X21 MW) Open Cycle power project with a 120 MW Combined Cycle power project which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions through fuel saving.
This project would increase the efficiency of Gumti Hydel Power Project through its renovation and modernization.
Renovation of 27 numbers of 33/11 KV sub-stations would be undertaken. The project also includes installation of 1,50,000 smart meters, 582 16 KVA and 547 25-KVA distribution transformers.
The project would cover construction./ augmentation of 143.46 Km UG Cable, 1650 Km Cover Conductor, 900 Km AB Conductor, 1262 Ken 11 KV lines, o Project will build institutional capacity and overall business process of the state’s D1SCOM and GENCO.
