Bangladesh Owes Rs 200 Crore in Electricity Dues To Tripura: CM Saha; After Adani Power, State Can Review Supply

After Adani Power, Tripura has also claimed that Bangladesh is yet to pay crores of electricity dues to the Indian state. This was confirmed by Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Monday (23 December).

"Bangladesh has not paid us about Rs 200 crore for supplying electricity. The outstanding (amount) is increasing every day. We hope that they will clear their dues so that the power supply is not disrupted," Saha told PTI.

However, he clarified that no decision has been taken on halting power supply to the neighbouring country yet. As per the contract, Tripura provides Bangladesh with 60-70 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

"But I don't know how long we will be able to continue the supply of electricity to Bangladesh if they don't clear the dues," the Tripura CM added.

The contract was signed by the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited via the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited with the Bangladesh Power Development Board.

Saha mentioned that numerous pieces of equipment at the power generation facility in Tripura were transported via Bangladeshi land or the Chittagong port. As a gesture of appreciation, the Tripura Government began providing power to the country in accordance with an agreement.

Since March 2016, Tripura has been providing electricity to Bangladesh. This power is generated from the 726 MW gas-based power plant in Palatana, southern Tripura, which is owned and operated by the state's ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC).

Earlier, Adani Power, that exports electricity to Bangladesh from its 1,600 MW Godda plant located in Jharkhand, decreased its supply from approximately 1,400-1,500 MW to 520 MW in August. This reduction was due to Bangladesh's non-payment of $800 million.

When questioned about the effects on Tripura due to the alleged assaults on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, Saha stated that his state has not yet experienced a significant influx from the neighboring country.

"But we are closely monitoring the situation along the border since the border is porous as there are many gaps. However, as of now, there is no major influx from Bangladesh after the present turmoil started in that country in August," he said.

The state has witnessed retaliation over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh as there was a security breach at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala,

The CM stating that he has taken firm measures to handle the situation. "We have arrested several people who were involved in it. We have also taken action against policemen who were responsible for the security of the premises where the breach took place," he said.

Saha indicated that the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina administration in Bangladesh has impacted trade, resulting in a substantial decrease in the importation of Bangladeshi products to Tripura.

He stated that items such as cement, stone chips, and Hilsa fish are typically imported from Bangladesh to Tripura. However, he noted that the supply chain has been disrupted, resulting in a loss for them.