BD position to be finalised after getting jt study report : Dipu

FE Report Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Thursday said the position of the government on the Tipaimukh Dam will be finalised after getting the report of proposed Joint Study of India and Bangladesh and the findings of a high-level delegation on the whole gamut of issues concerning the dam to be constructed by the Indian government in its state of Manipur. Dipu said the agreement to construct the dam is yet to be approved by the Indian government. "We will take up the issue at higher levels of international bodies if the report of the proposed joint study and findings of the high-level delegation, to be sent from Bangladesh to Manipur soon, turn out to be negative so far the protection of 'our national interest' is concerned," Dipu told reporters at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). "We hope the study will be completed soon. If the study reveals any harm that are likely to be caused to Bangladesh by the project, appropriate steps would then be taken immediately," she added, without giving details. Indian Hydro developers NHPC Ltd. and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVN) have established a joint venture with India's Manipur State to develop the 1,500-MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric project on the Barak River in Manipur. Officials of the two government-owned hydro developers and the northeastern India state signed a promoter's agreement on October 22 last for setting up the joint venture. NHPC is to have 69 per cent ownership of the venture, with SJVN having 26 per cent and Manipur, 5.0 per cent. The Tipaimukh Dam is envisaged to be a multi-purpose storage project with its main objective to generate 3.8 billion kWh annually. It will also reportedly help moderate flooding of the downstream areas. The construction is expected to require 87 months' time. The foreign minister quoting an aide memoire sent by the Indian authorities in May 2009 said, "This project (Tipaimukh project) does not have any component of irrigation. So, there is no point about water diversion." She said Bangladesh wanted sharing of more information on the issue. Terming India as a friendly country, Dipu said India has provided duty-free market access to almost all products, originating from Bangladesh, to its market. Availing themselves of this facility, the country's readymade garments (RMG) exporters got export orders worth $90 million in the current month of November. The foreign minister said many bilateral disputes, including that of settlement of land boundary with India, have been solved. She said the Tipaimukh Dam will be accepted by Bangladesh only after it becomes convinced that no harm would be caused to the country by its construction. UNB adds: Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Thursday criticised the opposition for their current stance on the Tipaimukh Dam issue, saying that they are making statements more on "shabby political interest" rather than the national one. While in power for long ten years, the main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), kept itself mum, during its tenure in two separate terms, on the Tipaimukh Dam and other issues with India, she added. However, she welcomed the offer made by the leader of opposition leader Khaleda Zia to cooperate with the government to deal with India on the Tipaimukh issue. The Foreign Minister termed the criticism of the opposition about the Indian government not reciprocating the Bangladesh's concerns in a manner that Bangladesh has demonstrated towards India in addressing the areas of the latter's concern "politically motivated". "They are making criticisms without looking at the reality and making any proper evaluation," she told a correspondent. Asked when the high-powered Bangladesh delegation will go to New Delhi to discuss the Tipaimukh issue, she said the Foreign Ministry conveyed Thursday the intention of the government of Bangladesh to India. After receiving the response from New Delhi, the composition of the delegation and the date of the visit would be fixed, she added. Mentioning the earlier visit by the Bangladesh parliamentary delegation to Tipaimukh site, she said the Indian side on May 21, 2009 informed the members of the delegation that the Tipaimukh project "has two components -- generation of hydropower and flood control -- and it has no plan to divert water from the Barak River for irrigation". Besides, Dipu Moni said the government India at its highest level assured the Bangladesh side that they would not do anything that might harm the interests of Bangladesh. Asked how much the government of Bangladesh can rely on the Indian assurance after signing of the 'Promoter's Agreement' concerning the Tipaimukh project, she said such an assurance from the highest level is respected in international diplomacy. About her recent meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the Foreign Minister said it was merely a courtesy call and the maiden meeting after Mamata's victory in the elections of the Indian state of 'Paschimbanga' (West Bengal). During the meeting, she discussed the Teesta water sharing issue, among other things, since Paschimbanga has a role to play in it. Asked if she would sit down with the chief minister of Manipur state where the proposed Tipaimkuh dam will be built, Dipu Moni said there is no such decision yet. "We will do whatever is necessary in the national interest," she added. Asked if she is concerned over the current developments over the Tipaimukh project, she said how she could say anything about this, before discussion and evaluation of the project. The Foreign Minister could not answer all the questions from the reporters due to her scheduled business in parliament on the day. Referring to some reports in a section of the media that harshly criticized her abrupt departure from last Wednesday's press meet without entertaining questions about the Tipaimukh Dam, Dipu Moni said that since the public representatives work for the people, journalists should cooperate with them. "They (journalists) should maintain a minimum degree of politeness, which is necessary for healthy politics," she added.