Bangladesh owes Tripura Rs 135 crore for electricity under an agreement through NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. Tripura has asked for immediate payment.
Tensions Rise Amid “Anti-India Activities”
This request comes as tensions grow due to “anti-India activities” in Bangladesh. Recently, an Agartala-Kolkata bus traveling via Dhaka was attacked in Brahmanbaria district. The passengers were threatened and anti-India slogans were shouted, although no one was hurt. This incident has added to the concerns.
Payment Delays Despite Regular Transactions
Tripura’s Power Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, said, “Though Rs 135 crore is outstanding, Bangladesh has been making the payments regularly. For each unit of power, we are charging Rs 6.65, which is a decent rate compared with the one we get from domestic connections.” However, delays in payments have led to increased dues.
Power Supply Restricted Due to Payment Issues
In May 2024, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) reduced the power supply to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) after delayed payments. Over the past year, the delays have caused the outstanding amount to grow.
Efforts to Resolve the Payment Issue
Debasish Sarkar, Managing Director of TSECL, explained, “The BPDB owes more than Rs 1 crore to Tripura State Electricity Corporation. We are trying hard to make sure that the payment is streamlined but there seem to be some financial issues. We have written letters to the Bangladesh authorities. I have personally met the chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board. The power minister has also spoken to the Union Power Ministry so that the issues could be resolved as early as possible.” He added that TSECL is struggling financially due to the growing dues.
Agreement and Oversight
Under the agreement, Bangladesh is entitled to 160 megawatts of power from Tripura, with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) overseeing the trading. Sarkar mentioned, “We have also spoken to the NVVN to make sure that the timely payment is made.”
Installment Payments and Power Generation Issues
Bangladesh has been paying in installments, which has disrupted the financial flow for TSECL. Moreover, power generation in Tripura has dropped by 60 to 70 megawatts. As a result, Tripura has had to buy power from exchanges to meet the growing demand. Sarkar concluded, “If all the power plants generate power to the optimum level, we would have been in a better position. Lack of gas also hindered the power generation in the thermal power projects.”