Dedicating the 1200-km East-North Tala Power Transmission System to the nation, Prime minister Manmohan Singh has called for taking the issue of energy similar to security. The PM said that the availability of quality power at affordable cost has emerged the most important constraint on the pace of the country’s development.

Tala hydro-electric and transmission project is the first power transmission project developed in public-private partnership, distributed 49:51 per cent between Tata Power and Bhutan’s Power Grid Corporation Limited. The $750-million project, the largest India-Bhutan joint venture completely funded by India, will transfer power from the latter’s 1,020-MW project. It will benefit West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Sikkim.

Expressing his gratitude to the King and people of Bhutan for their role in the Tala project, the PM said the project signifies the resolve to locate new pathways of regional economic collaboration in South Asia for attaining sustainable development.

However, he hoped that the country could replicate the success of bilateral cooperation with Bhutan in the power sector with Nepal too.

Acknowledging the difficulty and problem of displacement faced by the people during construction of such a huge hydroelectric project, the Prime Minister expressed that the Ministry of Power is formulating a task force on hydropower to address the concerns pertaining to ecology, rehabilitation and resettlement.

He also hoped that special courts for speedy disposal of power theft cases would become operational soon.

The issue of adequate and proper supply of power has been raising concerns all over the country for a long time now. Projects such as Tala HEP could provide light to the areas mirred in dark. Although it would involve a lot of investment, yet the Prime Minister has equated power to security, so some positives can be hoped to come out.

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Via: The Hindu