Tipaimukh protests politically motivated : Indian HC  Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty questioned the wisdom of Bangladeshi experts speaking against India''s Tipaimukh dam as he said they don''t have basic data about the scheme and that they are raising voice getting "politically motivated",(UNB) "Your experts don''t have basic data--some of them, I am afraid, being politically motivated. They are raising the issue for other reasons," Pinak told reporters in reply to a question regarding the planned Tipaimukh barrage over the common river Barak while emerging from a meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Wednesday. He said the matter of Tipaimukh was not discussed Wednesday at the meeting but "we have provided information, whatever available, to Bangladesh side." The Indian envoy reasserted that Tipaimukh is not a ''water-diversion'' project but a ''hydroelectric project'', and both Bangladesh and India would be beneficial from the mammoth project. He said traditionally the project will generate electricity which can be shared, if possible. "After the use of water for generating electricity, it would flow back into the river and flow its natural course," he told the journalists, explaining their design of the dam. Pinak further said the project would also help in controlling floods as, during rainy season, a lot of water rolls down the rivers and cause floods in downstream areas of Bangladesh. He further noted that if it makes some control of rivers, it would also help supply more water into rivers in the lean season when flow of water is scanty. The Indian High Commissioner said they offered Bangladesh team to visit the Tipaimukh barrage project site to see themselves what is happening. He said they would provide all available information about the dam to the team. Replying to a question about detained Indian national Daud Merchant and his associate Zahid, he said they might seek consular access for the detainees as they are Indian nationals. The Indian diplomat said he mainly discussed with Foreign Minister Dipu her visit to India on invitation from the new Indian External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna. He handed over the invitation letter to Dipu Moni today. They also discussed and decided to sit again for making detailed plan for visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India. http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=#19712 |
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