India,B'desh plan to develop common electricity grid:President

Energy-hungry India and Bangladesh are attempting to develop a common electricity grid to help cut power scarcity in the region, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.
Calling for enhancing cooperation between two nations in power generation and distribution, he said collaboration was not just important for the two countries but for entire South Asian region.
Dedicating to nation ONGC's first gas-based power project, Mukherjee thanked Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her help in allowing the use of Bangladesh port and route to transport heavy machinery and infrastructure for the project saving cost and time in the completion of the project.

The project is a hallmark of cooperation between India and Bangladesh, which ensured smooth passage of heavy project equipment and turbines to Palatana through its territory by road and waterways, from Haldia port in West Bengal.
He said, while Presidents don't go to inauguration of industrial units, he had come here for two reasons--first to thank Bangladesh for its help and second that this is first power plant in the country which is based on green technology.
The President said both countries are trying to develop common grid, which would help in reducing power scarcity in the region.
Mukherjee said while demand for power is increasing, it is important that clean sources of energy be tapped.

Addressing the gathering in Bengali, Mukherjee said the Palatana project is a clean energy project which has been recognised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and will earn India over a million of carbon credits.