Tripura power minister calls for re-launch of PSD fund for Northeast

Agartala: Tripura power minister, Ratan Lal Nath, has called on the central government to reintroduce the power system development fund (PSDF) for the Northeast states.

Speaking at the North Eastern Power Ministers' conference held in Guwahati city of Assam, Tripura power minister, Ratan Lal Nath, stressed on the necessity of this fund for advancing the region's power infrastructure.

In his address to union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Tripura minister pointed out the significant rise in gas prices purchased from GAIL for power generation.

He urged the union power and petroleum ministries to reduce these prices to lessen the financial strain Tripura.

Nath also appealed to the Power Grid Corporation of India to include the CBIS component in the NERPSIP Project, which aims to set up a cutting-edge training center in Tripura.

Furthermore, he requested that the Union Ministry of Power cover the entire cost of the 400 KV Substation in Suryamaninagar.

The Tripura minister outlined the need for central funding to support Tripura's intra-state transmission projects through 2030, with an estimated cost of Rs 1000 crore.

He highlighted the importance of the National Hydro Power Corporation's pump storage project in the Longtorai subdivision, which has the potential to generate 800 MW of power, and called for its swift completion, noting that preparations for the PFR and DPR are underway.

Expressing concern over the escalating cost of electricity production, Nath stressed the difficulty of maintaining affordable rates for residents.

He urged the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to reassess the rising gas prices under the APM system and called on the Union Power Minister to address this issue to balance the state's needs and ensure affordable electricity rates.