Agartala, July 29: Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar has demanded natural gas at subsidised rates for the stalled Monarchak thermal power project of the North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (Neepco), which is being revived by the Union ministry for power.

Making a plea to Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Murli Deora, the chief minister said the rate at which ONGC is supplying natural gas was exorbitant. He said the rate needed to be subsidised by the Centre in accordance with its existing policy for the development of the Northeast. ?The natural gas found in Tripura must be made available to all ventures in Tripura at subsidised rates so that the state can develop,? Sarkar told Deora. He also demanded early completion of the 280- MW thermal power plant at Monarchak, saying that abandoning the project would be ruinous for Neepco, which has spent over Rs 50 crore on the project.