By TC News Desk
Agartala, 5th August 2024: To ensure a continuous and reliable power supply in the state, Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha chaired a review meeting of the Power Department on Monday. He highlighted the commitment to implementing central government projects aimed at bolstering power services across the state.
Dr. Saha underscored the importance of maintaining high-quality standards in both Central and State Government projects. He stressed the need to promptly identify and address any issues that arise.
The Chief Minister directed the department to expedite the replacement of outdated transmission lines and promote awareness about managing electricity consumption, particularly in relation to air conditioners (ACs). He called for awareness programs to educate the public on AC usage to maintain load balance and emphasized the need for regular maintenance and repair of electrical transformers.
In addition, Dr. Saha recommended exploring and advancing renewable energy sources, such as solar power. He urged both private and government buildings to increase their use of solar energy and stressed the importance of timely collection of electricity bills. The Chief Minister also instructed that issues reported to the 1912 helpline be addressed promptly.
During the meeting, Abhishek Singh, the Power Department Secretary, provided updates on current projects and challenges. He noted that the state’s electricity supply stands at 457 MW, while the demand is approximately 362 MW. Singh highlighted ongoing and upcoming projects, including the commissioning of a new 132 KV sub-station at Bisramganja under the NEC project and the expansion of the 132/33 KV sub-station at Bodhjungnagar under the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti project, with an expenditure of Rs 2.43 crore. Additionally, construction of transmission lines from Suryamnagar to Manarchak and from Suryamnagar to Rukhiya is in progress under the Special Financial Assistance Scheme of the State Government, with a total expenditure of Rs 34.73 crore.
Singh also announced a major project worth Rs 1,155 crore for the development of power infrastructure in the state, supported financially by the Asian Development Bank.
The meeting was attended by Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Chief Secretary JK Sinha, Secretary to the Chief Minister Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty, Secretary of the PWD Department Kiran Gitte, Managing Director of TSECL Bishwanath Basu, among others.
