Bangladesh owes Tripura ₹200 crore in electrical energy dues however no determination has been taken on halting energy provide to the neighbouring nation but, Chief Minister Manik Saha mentioned on Monday.
Tripura provides 60-70 megawatts of energy to the neighbouring nation in response to an settlement signed by the Tripura State Electrical energy Company Restricted by means of the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Restricted with the Bangladesh Energy Improvement Board.
“Bangladesh has not paid us about ₹200 crore for supplying electrical energy. The excellent (quantity) is growing on daily basis. We hope that they are going to clear their dues in order that the ability provide is just not disrupted,” Saha advised PTI right here in an interview.
Requested whether or not the Tripura authorities would cease the provision of electrical energy if Dhaka fails to pay the dues, the chief minister mentioned no determination has been taken on it but.
He mentioned a number of items of equipment on the energy technology plant in Tripura have been introduced by means of both Bangladeshi territory or Chittagong port. Subsequently, out of gratitude,e the Tripura authorities began supplying energy to the nation following a pact.
“However I do not understand how lengthy we can proceed the provision of electrical energy to Bangladesh if they do not clear the dues,” he mentioned.
Tripura started supplying energy to Bangladesh in March 2016. The electrical energy is produced on the state-owned ONGC Tripura Energy Firm’s (OTPC) gas-based 726 MW technology capability energy plant in southern Tripura’s Palatana.
Based on experiences, Adani Energy, which exports energy to Bangladesh from its 1,600 MW Godda plant in Jharkhand, diminished the provision to 520 MW from round 1,400-1,500 MW in August as a consequence of non-payment of USD 800 million by the nation.
Requested concerning the impacts on Tripura as a result of reported assaults on Hindus and different minorities in Bangladesh, Saha mentioned there is no such thing as a main inflow from the neighbouring nation to his state but.
“However we’re intently monitoring the state of affairs alongside the border because the border is porous as there are various gaps. Nevertheless, as of now, there is no such thing as a main inflow from Bangladesh after the current turmoil began in that nation in August,” he mentioned.
Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on its north, south and west and the size of its worldwide border is 856 km, which is 84 per cent of its whole border.
Commenting on the latest breach of safety on the Bangladesh Assistant Excessive Fee in Agartala, the chief minister mentioned he had taken sturdy motion within the case.
“We’ve arrested a number of individuals who have been concerned in it. We’ve additionally taken motion in opposition to policemen who have been liable for the safety of the premises the place the breach came about,” he mentioned.
Saha mentioned after the autumn of the Sheikh Hasina authorities in Bangladesh, commerce has been affected and the import of Bangladeshi items to Tripura has come down considerably.
He mentioned among the many items that come to Tripura from Bangladesh are cement, stone chips and Hilsa fish. “Provide has been disrupted. It’s their loss,” he mentioned.
Requested concerning the communication community with Bangladesh, he mentioned if the railway line is restored between Agartala and Dhaka, it will be immensely helpful for each the nation.
“If Chittagong port is allowed for use with none disruption, the whole Northeastern states can be considerably benefitted,” he mentioned.
The direct highway distance to Chittagong port from Agartala is round 175 km.
A rail line linking Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on November 1, 2023.
The venture has a size of 5.46 km in India and 6.78 km in Bangladesh.
The price of the Indian portion was ₹708.73 crore and funded by the Ministry of Improvement of North Jap Area (DoNER).
The price of the Bangladesh portion was ₹392.52 crore. The Bangladesh portion is funded by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs India and executed by the Bangladesh Railway.
If the overland transport proper is allowed by Bangladesh, the journey time between Agartala and Kolkata is predicted to come back down from about 30 hours to about 10 hours.
The present prepare commute distance between the 2 cities is 1,581 km and it requires a re-route by way of Guwahati and Lumding in Assam. This could be curtailed to 460 km, officers mentioned.
