India now has capacity to export power and is ready to sell power to Bangladesh, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday, after dedicating to the nation the second unit of the 726 MW gas-based power plant at Palatana, 60 km south of Agartala, the capital of Tripura, report agencies.
Modi also expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for allowing transhipment of heavy machineries to the plant, formation of which was completed with the commissioning of second unit.
"We have now a situation to export power and ready to sell to Bangladesh", he said in his speech attended by thousands of people gathered from different parts of the State.
"India was ready to sell 100 MWs of electricity from the plant to Bangladesh, if Bangladesh wanted," he said.
On behalf of Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her energy advisor, Dr Towfiq-i- Elahi, was present along with Bangladesh state minister for energy Nasrul Hamid.
Referring to the recent energy cooperation agreement signed at the recent SAARC summit at Kathmandu, Nepal, he said that it was because of Indo-Bangla cooperation that the project was realized.
"If we can build such a big plant by cooperation between two countries, we could undertake much larger projects by working as a region, "he said.
The Indian prime minister described the north-east as "India's gateway to prosperity."
Towfiq-i-Elahi said that Bangladesh was already importing 500 MWs of electricity from India and was expecting to import another 500 MWs, if India was willing to sell.
"We want to work together in the energy sector," he said.
He thanked India for helping Bangladesh in the energy sector.
The chief minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar, thanked the Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, for extending full cooperation to the project. "Had it not been for her, the project would never have materialized," he said.
He said that the development of the Indian north-east was contingent upon greater cooperation between India and Bangladesh. He said the north-east would be profusely benefitted if it was allowed to use Chittagong sea-port and Ashuganj river and land port.
He urged the Indian prime minister to take up the issue with his Bangladesh counterpart.
Sarkar said, 'I had requested Bangladesh to participate in the inauguration ceremony and the Bangladesh prime minster has responded by sending her advisor and cabinet colleague'. He thanked her for the kind gesture.
India PM Modi further said the ONGC which has major stake in 'the Rs.100 billion (10,000 crore) investment at Palatana - biggest so far in northeast India - has doubled its expenditure, eying new exploration activities in northeast.
He opined that the agreement recently signed with the Japanese Government would culminate in an economic corridor to ultimately benefit people in common and youths in particular to avail employment.
"Northeast India would no more remain neglected as it is becoming Asia's gateway and for achieving speedy growth, coordination between State Governments is also important," Prime Minister asserted.
He also justified Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's suggestion for creating a special petro-chemical zone in Tripura.
Mr. Sarkar. in his speech. also sought the Prime Minister's intervention for taking up with Bangladesh issues of transhipment and port of call facilities at Ashuganj river and Chittagong sea ports.
Citing the four colours (including the middle circle) of India's national flag, Mr. Modi called for a 'tri-colour' revolution in organic farming, milk production, solar and renewable energy and blue revolution using water resources for overall progress of the region.
