Agartala, 22nd August 2026 : Former Power Minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Dey on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Tripura government over rising electricity bills, frequent power disruptions and the deteriorating financial condition of the state’s power utility.
At a press conference, Dey alleged that consumers are being made to bear the financial burden of the government’s power-sector policies under the justification of bridging the “regulatory gap”. He claimed that the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited, which had fixed deposits of nearly ₹300 crore during the Left Front regime, is now facing a revenue deficit of around ₹1,700 crore.
Dey questioned how a state-owned power corporation with substantial financial reserves could reach such a position. He attributed the deterioration partly to the decline in Tripura’s own electricity generation and the resulting dependence on power purchased from outside the state.
Recalling the power situation during the Left Front government, Dey said Tripura had once achieved a reputation as a load-shedding-free state. He alleged that the situation has changed significantly, with power cuts now lasting for several hours in different areas. Such disruptions, he added, are also affecting drinking water supply and creating problems for households.
Dey disputed the repeated explanation that technical faults are responsible for the outages, arguing that such problems have continued without any permanent solution.
He also highlighted the decline in generation from state power plants. According to him, Baramura earlier generated around 42 MW but is currently producing only about 18 MW. The Rokhia plant, he said, had earlier generated nearly 60-62 MW. The reduction in generation, he claimed, has increased pressure on the state’s power system and forced greater reliance on costly external purchases.
The CPI(M) leader also criticised the Centre’s electricity-sector reforms, alleging that recent policies are placing additional pressure on state-run utilities while creating greater opportunities for private companies. He claimed that ordinary consumers are ultimately bearing the cost of these changes.
Dey separately questioned the ongoing installation of smart meters. He said around 50,000 meters had been installed on a trial basis during the Left Front government’s tenure and claimed that the exercise did not generate widespread complaints at that time. He questioned why smart-meter installations are now facing protests across the state and sought greater transparency over the involvement of private companies.
According to Dey, public protests over inflated electricity bills have compelled the government to respond. However, he maintained that temporary relief on bills would not resolve the larger crisis.
He demanded measures to revive Tripura’s own power-generation capacity, improve distribution infrastructure and restore the financial stability of the electricity corporation, arguing that long-term reforms are necessary to prevent the state from losing its earlier self-reliance in the power sector.
