Guwahati, July 18, 2025 — In a landmark development for the power sector in Northeast India, Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath played a pivotal role in averting a massive financial burden on the region during the 29th meeting of the North Eastern Power Committee held in Guwahati.
A proposal to hike gas prices for the Palatana Gas Power Project (OTPC) was tabled before the meeting. If passed, it would have significantly increased electricity costs for consumers in Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur. Standing firm, Ratan Lal Nath rejected the proposal, calling it “against public interest,” and highlighted the unjustified financial pressure it would impose. His clear, evidence-backed argument led to the proposal’s rejection.
Another proposal, pushed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, recommended that states purchase an additional 30 kW of electricity, irrespective of actual need. Nath again objected, citing wasteful spending and unnecessary burden on consumers. As a result, this proposal was also put on hold, preventing potential losses running into hundreds of crores across the region.
The meeting saw support from senior Tripura officials, including Udayan Sinha, Additional Secretary, Biswajit Basu, MD of TSECL, and Ranjan Debbarman, GM of Bidyut Paribahan Ltd. Their strategic coordination helped shift the direction of the conference in Tripura’s favor.
Minister Nath also showcased Tripura’s strides in the power sector:
26 MW solar power generation
45,000 solar street lights, 4,900 solar pumps, 215 solar microgrids
A historic shift through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
Progress on an 800 MW pumped storage project with NHPC
Preparations for interstate and cross-border power exports
A major ₹2,275 crore ADB-funded project is modernizing Tripura’s power infrastructure, including smart metering, underground power lines, cyber-secure control centers, and drone-based maintenance.
Tripura’s State Load Dispatch Center has also achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for cybersecurity—an achievement praised by power ministers from other states.
Under Ratan Lal Nath’s leadership, Tripura is transitioning from power-deficient to power-surplus, aiming to become a key contributor in India’s ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ mission. His assertive and visionary leadership in Guwahati is now being seen as a model for the Northeast, firmly positioning Tripura on the national map as a self-reliant and renewable energy-forward state.