AGARTALA, March 30—Darkness looms large over the state following NEEPCO’s decision to ‘regulate’ power supply to the electricity department from April 3 next. The ‘Regulation of power supply’ in straight words means ‘stoppage or at least drastic reduction of power supply’.
The NEEPCO decision came as the state’s power department failed to pay up the huge debt of Rs 90 crore to the corporation, despite several reminders. If NEEPCO curtails supply, then there will be a sharp deficit of about 45 to 50 mw during the peak hour and the power department will have no other option but to resort to massive loadshedding.
Going by what the power and finance department officials indicate, there is no chance of payment of the state’s debt to NEEPCO at this moment. NEEPCO officials said, the corporation was constantly pursuing with the state government for settlement of the outstanding dues against supply of power to the state. It was reiterated time and again during the interactions with the state government that NEEPCO itself was unable to pay its own creditors particularly the gas suppliers. “We have categorically told the state government that unless payments are forthcoming from the state it will not be possible for the NEEPCO to continue to run its power stations and sustain the uninterrupted power supply to the beneficiary states”, said an official and added. “Unfortunately, the response from the state was not encouraging and the outstanding dues remain unpaid.”
The outstanding dues the official said, has already touched a mindboggling Rs 90 crore. In the meantime in the first week of February last NEEPCO served a notice to the state government that if the payments were not paid and immediately settled, from April 3 next the corporation would start ‘regulating power supply to the State.’
“The state government seemed reluctant and we have no other alternative but to execute the power regulation from April 3 next.”