Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) India Tuesday assured Bangladesh that the Tipaimukh hydro-electric project in Manipur will not have an “adverse” impact on it as there will be no diversion of water for irrigation purposes.

India’s clarification came in response to reports in the Bangladeshi media expressing concern over the Indian project.

“The only recent development pertaining to the project has been the signing of a promoter’s agreement with the purpose of setting up a joint venture (JV) company between the Manipur government, National Hydro Power Corporation Limited and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) on Oct 22,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said to queries regarding the media reports in Bangladesh.

“We have seen reports in the Bangladesh media expressing concern over the Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project. The JV will be established under the name and style of Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Corporation Limited or any other name as approved by the concerned registrar of companies,” he said.

Prakash recalled that a 10-member Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation led by Abdur Razzak, former water resources minister and current chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on water resources, had visited India in July 2009 at the invitation of the Indian government.

“It had been clarified to the delegation 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,” Prakash said.

Subsequently, during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had reiterated the assurance that India would not take steps on the Tipaimukh project that would adversely impact on Bangladesh.

This assurance was again reiterated during Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh in September 2011.