NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday said its 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydro-Electric (Multi-Purpose) Project would not involve diversion of water and hence would not have any adverse downstream impact on Bangladesh.
Ministry of External Affairs said it has been clarified to Dhaka that the proposed project was a hydro-electric project with provision to control floods and that this would not involve diversion of water on account of irrigation.
“….During the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010, our Prime Minister had reiterated the assurance that India would not take steps on the Tipaimukh project that would adversely impact on Bangladesh. The assurance was again reiterated during the visit of our Prime Minister to Bangladesh in September 2011,” official spokesperson in the MEA said.
Tuesday’s reiteration came in the wake of media reports on signing of a promoter’s agreement by state-owned NHPC Limited, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited and Manipur government to set up a joint venture company for implementation of the Tipaimukh project which is being opposed by some environmentalists in both Bangladesh and India.
The spokesperson also referred to the visit of a 10- strong parliamentary delegation, led by Abdur Razzak, former Bangladesh Water Resources Minister and current chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources ministry, in July 2009, at the invitation of the Indian government. (PTI)
