Agartala/Aizawl, Dec 22 (IANS): In a reciprocal gesture, Tripura is supplying power to Meghalaya and Mizoram to ensure that the people in the two Christian-dominated states celebrate Christmas without any disruption, a minister said here Monday.

"We have started supplying 15 MW of power to Mizoram and 20 MW to Meghalaya from Sunday and it would continue till Jan 2," Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey told IANS in Agartala.

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.

Mizoram and Meghalaya supplied 15 MW and 20 MW electricity respectively to Tripura during the Durga Puja festival. As a mutual gesture, Tripura is now supplying power to both the Christian-dominated states for Christmas.

Christmas is the major festival in three Christian-dominated northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, where over 80 percent population is Christian.

Meanwhile, tight security measures were made across Mizoram to ensure that the people celebrate Christmas and New Year peacefully.

"Mizoram Police would conduct foot patrolling and intensify surveillance in the sensitive areas till the Christmas and New Year festivities are over," police spokesman C. Laldina said in Aizawl.

Mizoram Police have already opened several helplines, he said.

Laldina said ban on firecrackers would be strictly enforced during the festive season and executive magistrates would also be on duty in various areas to enforce the government order.