Agartala: Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar flagged significant financial losses in the power sector during a review meeting in Tripura. He directed officials to identify and curb illegal electricity connections, emphasizing better planning to meet future energy demand.
Focus on Power Quality and Infrastructure
Khattar instructed officials to improve the quality and reliability of electricity services across the state, ensuring uninterrupted supply. He also reviewed the progress of centrally funded power infrastructure projects. The meeting discussed modernizing power infrastructure, reducing transmission losses, and improving service delivery in both urban and rural areas.
Appreciation for Loss Reduction
Khattar appreciated Tripura's reduction in power transmission losses over the past seven years. Official records showed that Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses fell to 18.23% this year from 40% in 2018, marking a significant improvement.
Smart Meter Progress
Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath informed Khattar that about 3.55 lakh consumers have been connected to smart meters, and the remaining 2.16 lakh consumers will be covered within the next six months. Nath said the state is prioritizing power sector revamp and expansion of solar energy.
Power Demand and Solar Targets
Nath noted that Tripura's current maximum power demand is 542 MW against an availability of 365 MW, requiring the state to purchase 177 MW from the power market. To bridge this gap and reduce dependence on conventional sources, the state is targeting solar power. He stated, “There are 5,347 stand-alone prepaid meters in Tripura, and the state is the only state in India where prepaid meters have been installed first. We shall install a total of 1,59,013 stand-alone prepaid meters in the state, as part of the power sector development mission.”
Infrastructure Upgrades
Nath said distribution strengthening work is underway with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. The state has converted a 63 MW open-cycle gas turbine into a 120 MW combined-cycle gas turbine at a cost of Rs 1,320 crore. Additionally, 12.11 MW of rooftop solar has been installed under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana against a target of 150 MW. Nath outlined a roadmap to expand generation capacity, aiming for 300 MW by next year, citing the state's highest recorded electricity demand of 270 MW on May 21.
Central Support for Urban Infrastructure
Khattar announced Central support exceeding Rs 427 crore for Tripura's urban infrastructure and power sector to improve civic amenities and strengthen energy capacity. He said the Centre has allocated Rs 100 crore for a scientific waste management project for Agartala. Furthermore, Tripura has proposed urban infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,200 crore under the Urban Challenge Projects Fund, with Rs 300 crore each from the Centre and the state, and the remaining Rs 600 crore to be mobilized through financial institutions.
