'Delhi's reluctance to offer Bangladesh power from ONGC's Tripura unit may cost North-East dearly'.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar feels Delhi's dithering to offer 100 MW to Bangladesh from the 726.6 MW ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), goes against the spirit of bi-lateral relations and may block the future growth of the natural gas rich region.

'Friendship has to be mutually beneficial,' he told Business Line reiterating that Bangladesh played a crucial role in helping India set up a Rs. 4,000-crore power plant. The move triggered an additional investment of Rs.6,000 crore in gas exploration and distribution in the State.

Bangladesh amended a transit treaty to allow India carry heavy power gears, each weighing over 300 tonne, through its territories to the OTPC project site. In return of this gesture they wanted to buy 100 MW of power from the project. Tripura, which is now planning expansion of power capacities and setting up of other gas-based industries, is keen to enhance the scope of cooperation and even offered power from its allocations.

The State also proposed easy evacuation of power by laying a 9 km connectivity from Sonamura in Tripura to Comilla district town in Bangladesh.

HBL