New Delhi: Seeking to allay apprehensions in
Bangladesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said no steps
will be taken on the Tipaimukh power project which would
"adversely affect" that country.
The assurance was given when Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina`s two advisers - Mashiur Rahman and Gowher Rizvi
- called on him here.
"The Prime Minister reiterated the assurance he had given
to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Bangladesh
in September 2011, that India will not take steps on Tipaimukh
project that will adversely affect Bangladesh," External
Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
Singh was responding when the Advisers raised the
Tipaimukh project issue.
The spokesman noted that Indian government has already
conveyed to the Bangladesh government its readiness to hold
discussions on the Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project.
Bangladesh had earlier sent a 10-member delegation of
political leaders which had visited the Tipaimukh project site
in 2009 and left convinced that it would not hurt the
interests of that country.
However, lately there have been renewed concerns with
regard to the 1500 MW project being constructed on Barak
river, which have assumed political dimensions in that
country.
Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia wrote to Singh
last week expressing her apprehensions over the project.
Singh wrote back, saying the project in no way would
affect the interests of Bangladesh.
PTI
