Agartala, 17th August 2026 : Tripura is looking towards rooftop solar power as a long-term solution to growing electricity demand and declining availability of natural gas, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Monday.
Speaking at a special council meeting at the Agartala Municipal Corporation Conference Hall, where the installation of rooftop solar plants under the ‘ULA Model’ was discussed, Nath said the government was committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reached economically weaker sections.
He said the state now has around 10.68 lakh electricity consumers, up from nearly seven lakh before the present government came to power. More than four lakh consumers use 50 units or less of electricity, he said, and the government is preparing measures to protect such low-consumption households from the impact of rising power demand and costs.
Nath said electricity had become indispensable for every sector, from industries and hospitals to schools, colleges and waste-management facilities. However, the state’s dependence on gas-based generation has become a concern as gas availability continues to decline.
Citing the Palatana power plant, the minister said the facility was originally expected to generate around 700 MW but is currently producing about 500 MW due to constraints in gas supply. He added that the Ramchandranagar plant, designed for around 100 MW, is generating only about 50–60 MW.
“Gas reserves are depleting; the supply is dwindling,” Nath said, pointing out that gas and coal are finite resources, unlike solar energy.
According to the minister, the Centre has been encouraging a greater shift towards solar and hydropower because of their environmental advantages. Energy generated from sunlight, water and wind is considered green energy, while conventional gas and coal-based generation causes pollution, he said.
Nath also explained that available natural gas has to meet several competing priorities, including household supply, agriculture and fertilizer production, leaving power generation under increasing pressure.
Against this backdrop, he said rooftop solar could help Tripura reduce its dependence on conventional sources while meeting part of its growing electricity requirement.
The minister stressed that the Centre, state government, municipal authorities and power-sector agencies would have to work together to expand renewable energy infrastructure and ensure that the benefits reach ordinary consumers.
The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Municipal Commissioner and officials from the concerned power teams were present at the meeting.
