Agartala:As anaccede to Tripura government's continuation of power export to Bangladesh, the state electricity corporation has renewed its agreement with the neighbouring country for five more years with revised rates. It took a month-long negotiation for the reluctant Bangladesh side to agree to continue the deal. The Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL)'s agreement signed in 2016 was expired in March 2021.
Confirming the development, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma said, “We are continuing the power trade. We have negotiated with the Bangladesh side in presence of TSECL MD MS Kele and Principal Secretary of the power department Kiran Gitte.”
It should also be noted that Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had raised the demand to Prime Minister on several occasions. “He requested the Prime Minister to ensure that this power trade continues as it generates a revenue of Rs 150 to 160 crore for the state”, a source privy to the development added.
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Speaking on the matter, TSECL MD MS Kele said, "In 2016 TSECL signed a deal with Bangladesh for the supply of 160 megawatts of power. The five-year agreement expired in March 2021. Although initially, the Bangladesh side was a bit reluctant to renew the agreement, they finally showed a green signal after several negotiation meetings that continued for a month or so”. On the newly fixed rates, he said, “We are getting good rates. Right now it cannot be disclosed because some official proceedings are left but the price is much more profitable than the domestic charges”.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister has inaugurated a series of new services that include Bidyut Bandhu app for consumers, Integrated Revenue Management system, TSECL officer’s mobile application. Addressing the press he said, “We want to modernise the power distribution system along with proper management of revenue. The sole motive behind launching these new facilities is to rationalise the resources and expenditure”. TSECL MD MS Kele and Principal Secretary Kiran Gitte were also present in the function.
