Agartala: December 9 : The Government of Tripura is making special efforts to strengthen the implementation of clean and green energy projects to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2070 as announced by the Government of India. Tripura Power Minister Ratanlal Nath made this claim while participating in the 25th North Eastern Energy Committee (NERPC) meeting held in Kolkata on Saturday, December 9.
This meeting has been organized under the supervision of NTPC. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the electricity related issues of the entire North East India. In that meeting, some important decisions related to the interest of Tripura were taken. According to the decision of the meeting, the work of 400 KV sub station in Suryamaninagar will be implemented quickly. It will be connected directly from Palatana Power Generation Station through 400 KV transmission line. As a result, the reliability and stability of power transmission will improve.
Besides, work on 132 KV double circuit line from Manarchak to Suryamaninagar will be completed expeditiously. In that, the electricity generated from Manarchak power generation plant will come directly to Suryamaninagar sub-station through double circuit line. In addition, surge arresters should be installed on high power transmission lines; so that no damage is caused to the transmission line due to lightning during rain storms and the power flow is normal.
The meeting decided to include high capacity mobile sub-stations in the power transmission management of Tripura, which will help in emergency based restoration of power system in case of problems in any of the existing sub-stations. The power transmission management will include the mobile tower (Emergency Restoration System), which will help in the emergency-based replacement of any damaged transmission tower.
Besides, the meeting emphasized on the use of modern equipment required for maintenance of high power transmission lines. It can work on the transmission line while keeping the power transmission running. Customer service will not be affected as a result. Monitoring of high power transmission lines by drones has also been decided. Meanwhile, another State Load Despatch Center (SL DC) will be set up at East Kanchanbari at Kumarghat to act as a backup to the SLDC at Agartala.
Incidentally, in the meeting of the 25th North Eastern Regional Power Committee in Kolkata, the State Power Minister spoke for the progress of the overall power system in Tripura. Earlier, the 25th Technical Coordination Committee meeting was held at the same place on December 8. Both the meetings were attended by Tripura State Power Corporation Managing Director Debashish Sarkar and Tripura Power Transmission Limited General Manager Ranjan Debbarman.
Power Minister Ratanlal Nath said in a meeting of the North Eastern Regional Power Committee that the state is taking special efforts to strengthen the implementation of clean and green energy projects with the aim of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2070 as announced by the Government of India. So far 40 thousand solar street lights, 2500 solar pumps, 3 MW solar rooftops have been installed with twenty megawatt solar power generation. The state government is exploring the possibility of setting up a 130 MW floating solar power plant at Dambur Reservoir in Gomati district of Tripura. NTPC, an organization under the Government of India, has been given the responsibility for this.
He said installation of storage batteries in Tripura is also being explored to store renewable energy from sunlight to meet power demand during peak load hours in the state. Along with the development of Pumped Storage Scheme (PSP) as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power, Government of India on April 10, Pumped Storage Schemes will be developed in the state. Initially five locations have been identified in the state. NHPC, an agency under the Government of India, has been asked to look into the feasibility of the projects and the agency has started work.
He said, the work of Northeast Regional Power Development Project (NERPSIP) with the help of Government of India and World Bank is going on under the supervision of Power Grid Corporation. The Power Grid Corporation has been asked to expeditiously complete the construction of new transmission lines and substations under this project.
The Tripura government has signed an agreement worth Rs 2275 crore with ADB to strengthen and improve power distribution efficiency in the state. Under this project, comprehensive renovation of power projects in Rokhia and Gomati districts of Sipahijala district is planned. By modernizing the project, the installed capacity of the project will be doubled, he said.
He added, modernization and reliability improvement in power distribution under ADB funded projects include modern technologies such as covered conductors, high voltage distribution systems, fault passage indicators, ring man units (RMU), transformer testing labs, smart metering etc. He said that a project for laying 11 KV underground power cable in Agartala city has been taken up and work is going on accordingly. Overhead distribution lines (LTs) will be replaced by underground cables in future to ensure reliable power supply.
He claimed that cyber security is another important issue in the era of digital revolution. Cyber security is the protection of systems, networks and programs from digital or cyber attacks. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a body under the Government of India, has made cyber security mandatory in the power sector. Accordingly, necessary steps have been taken at the State Load Despatch Center to provide cyber security in the power sector in the state.
