India to supply 500 MW additional power to B'desh in 12 mths

India will begin to supply up to 500 MW additional power to Bangladesh as soon as the work on SAARC grid is accomplished in the next one year or so, said Power System Operation Corporation Executive Director V K Agrawal.
India will also draw considerably higher volumes of hydro power from nations such as Bhutan and Nepal, Agrawal said at a conference organised by the PHD Chamber.
"In view of deepening and thickening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh following conclusion of the recent summit level talks between the Prime Ministers of the two countries, a decision has been taken to supply additional 500 MW of gas-fed electricity to Bangladesh," a statement issued by PHD Chamber quoted Agrawal as saying.

He added: "Already India has been exporting 500 MW of power to Bangladesh as per stipulation and provisions of their bilateral provisions and the government has recently concluded another 500 MW power supply to be restored to Bangladesh with completion of SAARC grid."
The participants suggested that the government should bring in legislation empowering right to electricity in view of massive capacity additions and set up a statutory mechanism to regulate state electricity boards.