Agartala, April 12 (PTI): The state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has decided to raise the production of natural gas by three million metric standard cubic metres (mmscmd) in Tripura at an investment of Rs 1,817 crore.

ONGC sources today said the current output of natural gas in Tripura was 1.45 mmscmd and it would be raised to 4.5 mmscmd.

The decision was taken at a board meeting of ONGC held on Tuesday in Dehradun, sources said.

Generation of additional amount of gas was necessary for supply in the proposed 740- MW power plant at Palatana in South Tripura district.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation for the Palatana project in October, 2005, and the project is likely to be completed by 2009.

The sources said that the company would launch a massive exploration drive throughout the state for gas to fulfil the target.