AGARTALA, Nov 14 (TIWN): The bonding of Tripura and Bangladesh has hit the headlines when the Tripura government has shown keen interest to supply a 100MW of surplus power to Bangladesh by January. However, Bangladesh is looking forward to begin the power trade from December 16, to mark the country’s Bijoy Diwas (Victory day).Talking to TIWN correspondent on Friday, Power Minister Manik Dey said that the tariff for 100MW unit of power transmission to Bangladesh will be decided in a meeting by the end of November.He also said that the meeting will be chaired by the authorities of Bangladesh and India as well.However, the laying of transmission will not be completed before December as it is a time consuming work, added Dey.

India will sign an agreement with Bangladesh on November 27 to authoritatively proclaim the trade of 100 MW unit of power between India and Bangladesh from Tripura’s Palatana power project in Gomati district. Undoubtedly the selling of power to power-starved Bangladesh could be beneficial for Tripura as it is a power surplus state now. 

It can be said that as Bangladesh has provided a way to India to transport heavy machineries and turbines through its territories for the giant Palatana power project (726 MW) in southern Tripura, Tripura’s CM Manik Sarkar to tempt the bonding between the countries is keen to sell the surplus power to Bangladesh, off course with a satisfactory monetary benefit. 

This friendly approach of Mr.Sarkar can also be the outcome after the present West Bengal government led by Trinamool Congress chief Ms Mamata Banerjee determinedly disinclined to share Teesta river water to Bangladesh, which has been seriously urging India for the river water past many years, resulting Bangladesh allowing Tripura cater goods through its territories for the palata power project.

Besides, it may be also  to put up the good image of the Mr Sarkar who received ‘Muktijuddha’award in 2012 bestowed upon him by the Bangladesh government for his role in the 1971 liberation war that creates sovereign Bangladesh from then East Pakistan, has extended a helping hand to Bangladesh to further enhance the bond.

However, the decision to sell power from the 726 MW gas-based thermal power project at Palatana was finalized in a joint meeting of the officials of India and Bangladesh in New Delhi

Eyeing forward to further strengthen the bond between India and Bangladesh, Tripura is all set to kick off its fresh supply of 100 MW of surplus power to Bangladesh by  January.  The government owned power Grid Corporation of India is working day & night to finish the process of 47 km transmission of line from western Tripura to southern Comilla (in eastern Bangladesh) by December end.