In a goodwill gesture much to the spirit of Christmas, the state of Tripura has supplied power to neighbouring Mizoram for a week during this festive season.
The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd has supplied 20 MW power daily for a week to meet Mizoram’s excess demand for electricity during this festive period.
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Speaking to media, Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey said this is a reciprocal gesture of goodwill.
Notably, during Durga Puja this year, Tripura received additional power from Mizoram, he added.
Dey also said it is customary for the northeastern states to share electricity during festive periods.
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“This year, Tripura asked Meghalaya and Mizoram to supply at least 25 MW power each during the Durga Puja week, but Meghalaya did not respond.
Mizoram supplied 25 MW power to Tripura for seven days. Now we are reciprocating the gesture by supplying 20 MW daily between December 24 and December 31,” the Tripura Power Minister said.
Dey said Mizoram drew the full 20 MW power on Sunday but drew much less on Monday.
While Durga Puja is celebrated with pomp in Tripura, which has about three million Hindus, Christmas is the biggest festival in the states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland – which have a combined Christian population of 5.3 million.
Tripura is the only power surplus state in the region and also supplies 160 MW power daily to Bangladesh. Dey said the State produces more than 400 MW power from its own sources on a daily basis, also getting shares from projects like the Palatana gas-based combined cycle project, the Monarchak gas-based thermal project and shares from other northeastern states.
A Mizoram state electricity department official said in Aizawl that with the additional power supply from Tripura, Mizoram would have sufficient power during its most important annual carnival.