Bangladesh owes ₹200 crore to Tripura for unpaid electricity bills. But no decision has been made yet on halting the power supply, Chief Minister Manik Saha said. Tripura provides 60-70 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh. Tripura provides this electricity through an agreement between the Tripura State Electricity Corporation and the Bangladesh Power Development Board. Saha noted that outstanding dues continue to rise, but he hopes Bangladesh will clear them to avoid any disruption in supply. While Tripura government has decided not to cut off electricity. Saha mentioned that continued supply […]
Tripura Seeks ₹200 Crore From Bangladesh For Unpaid Electricity Bills
Bangladesh owes ₹200 crore to Tripura for unpaid electricity bills. But no decision has been made yet on halting the power supply, Chief Minister Manik Saha said. Tripura provides 60-70 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh. Tripura provides this electricity through an agreement between the Tripura State Electricity Corporation and the Bangladesh Power Development Board.
Saha noted that outstanding dues continue to rise, but he hopes Bangladesh will clear them to avoid any disruption in supply. While Tripura government has decided not to cut off electricity. Saha mentioned that continued supply might be difficult without payment.
Tripura started supplying power to Bangladesh in March 2016, sourced from the ONGC Tripura Power Company’s gas-based power plant in Palatana. The power supply was initially motivated by goodwill, as much essential machinery for power generation in Tripura was imported through Bangladesh or its Chittagong port.
In a similar case, Adani Power reduced its electricity supply to Bangladesh from its Godda plant in Jharkhand due to an unpaid USD 800 million bill. Regarding security, Saha addressed concerns over attacks on Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh. He assured there has been no significant influx of refugees from Bangladesh to Tripura. However, the state is closely monitoring the porous border.
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Saha also commented on the breach of security at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. He gave a statement stating that several individuals involved were arrested, and action was taken against responsible policemen. Trade has been impacted by the recent political instability in Bangladesh, with imports like cement, stone chips, and Hilsa fish to Tripura significantly decreasing.
Saha emphasized the importance of restoring the Agartala-Dhaka rail link, which would greatly benefit both countries. The rail line, inaugurated in November 2023. This new rail route is expected to reduce travel time between Agartala and Kolkata from 30 to 10 hours. If Bangladesh allows overland transport, the entire Northeast will benefit. Moreover the direct road link to Chittagong port from Agartala will further enhance connectivity.
