AGARTALA, Jan 21 (TIWN): The stage is all set to mark the inaugural ceremony of Indo-Bangla power transmission by February. Talking to TIWN correspondent on Wednesday Power Minister Manik Dey said that tariff is decided, required testing and experiments all are done and now the transmission just awaits formal inauguration. He also said that Tripura is now power surplus state and to boost the economy of the state, the government has decided to transmit the excess power to the neighbouring countries in exchange of cost per unit.It is to be mentioned here that, India has already inked an agreement to supply 100 MW of electricity to Bangladesh from the gas-based palatana power plant from Tripura at ₹5.50 a unit more or less identical to the weighted average generation tariff of 6.50 in Bangladesh. India currently supplies 500 MW to Dhaka through the West Bengal border.Without any delay, it can be expected that the indo-bangla power transmission will begin from next month, as claimed by Dey.The bond of India and Bangladesh have developed in last few years and has signed several agreement which are beneficial for both the countries including the recently signed agreement India and Bangladesh over purchase of surplus bandwidth and the extension of the submarine internet cable from its Bangladesh cox’s bazaar coastal town to Tripura’s capital Agartala has opened new opportunities for the state.

 And this agreement between India and Bangladesh will boost the economy of the state.

Electricity-starved Bangladesh will get a facelift with the transmission of 100 MW of power from Tripura to meet the energy crisis in the eastern part of the country. Undoubtedly the selling of power to power-starved Bangladesh could be beneficial for Tripura as it is a power surplus state now, said Dey. 

It can be said that as Bangladesh has provided a way to India to transport heavy machineries and turbines through its territories for the giant Palatana power project (726 MW) in southern Tripura, Tripura’s CM Manik Sarkar to tempt the bonding between the countries is keen to sell the surplus power to Bangladesh, off course with a satisfactory monetary benefit. 

This friendly approach of Mr.Sarkar can also be the outcome after the present West Bengal government led by Trinamool Congress chief Ms Mamata Banerjee determinedly disinclined to share Teesta river water to Bangladesh, which has been seriously urging India for the river water past many years, resulting Bangladesh allowing Tripura cater goods through its territories for the palata power project.

Besides, it may be also  to put up the good image of the Mr Sarkar who received ‘Muktijuddha’award in 2012 bestowed upon him by the Bangladesh government for his role in the 1971 liberation war that creates sovereign Bangladesh from then East Pakistan, has extended a helping hand to Bangladesh to further enhance the bond.