AGARTALA | AUGUST 22, 2026: In a joint press conference held in Agartala, former Power Minister Manik Dey, former Finance Minister Bhanu Lal Saha, Tripura Electricity Consumers and Employees Welfare Association Secretary Nataraj Datta, and former MP Sankar Prasad Datta launched a scathing attack on the state government over rising power tariffs, gas duty charges, and the rollout of smart meters.
Key Issues Raised by Former Power Minister Manik Dey
- Decline in State’s Own Power Generation: Manik Dey noted that power generation from state-owned thermal projects like Rokhia and Baramura, along with the Dumbur hydro project, has dropped significantly. Rokhia’s output dropped from ~60–62 MW to much lower levels, while Baramura’s generation plummeted from 42 MW to around 18 MW, forcing TSECL to buy costly power from external sources.
- Unjust Burden of Gas Duty & Surcharges: Dey highlighted that power in Palatana, Barmura, and Rokhia is produced using Tripura’s own natural gas—not imported gas. Despite the state receiving royalties, the government has imposed additional duty charges and up to 7.5% commercial/industrial tariffs since 2019–20, sending revenues directly to state coffers rather than TSECL.
- Flaws in Smart Meter Installation: Recalling pilot projects where 50,000 meters were tested in Agartala under state control without billing complaints, Dey criticized the current mass rollout through private vendors. He warned that replacing ₹1,400–₹1,600 traditional meters with ₹8,000–₹10,000 smart meters introduces privatization risks and arbitrary billing discrepancies for domestic consumers.
- Growing TSECL Financial Deficit: The leaders pointed out that TSECL—which held over ₹300 crore in fixed deposits during the previous administration—now faces a massive deficit of around ₹1,700 crore due to mismanaged procurement and operational inefficiencies.
Key Dignitaries Present
- Manik Dey: Former Power Minister, Tripura.
- Bhanu Lal Saha: Former Finance Minister, Tripura.
- Sankar Prasad Datta: Former Member of Parliament (MP).
- Nataraj Datta: Secretary, Tripura Electricity Consumers and Employees Welfare Association.
