Indian Prime Minister arrives today
16 May 2008
Enhancing economic and hydropower cooperation between India and Bhutan will be the key focus areas of the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s two-day visit to Bhutan which began today.
Briefing the media earlier about the visit, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years, will focus on forging a more diversified and contemporary economic and energy partnership in tune with emerging realities.
He said the visit of the Prime Minister to Bhutan will be part of the larger mission of diversifying the country’s
energy basket as Bhutan has the potential to produce 30,000 mega watts of hydropower.
According to a study, even if half of this potential is tapped, it could go a long way in easing North India’s chronic power shortages.
The Foreign Secretary said that during the visit the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the 1095-megawatt Punatsangchu I Hydroelectric Project and dedicate the 1,020-megawatt Tala Hydropower Project to the people of Bhutan and India.
He said that hydroelectric power cooperation has been an important element of Indo-Bhutan relations, as both countries have signed bilateral agreements to the effect that all surplus power from the three commissioned hydroelectric projects in Bhutan will be sold to India.
So far, he said, India has tapped 4,000 megawatt of electricity, and hoped to tap 5,000 megawatt of electricity by 2020.
The visit will also provide the Prime Minister with an insight into the democratic transformation of Bhutan.
The visit would also be used to celebrate a century of the monarchy, He added that the transition in Bhutan should be termed as remarkable, as half a century ago, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru spent a month travelling to Bhutan by horse and yak, and now the current Prime Minister was landing in Paro in an aircraft, a sign of progress in terms of connectivity, economic integration, contacts at the high level, mutual trust and understanding.
The Foreign Secretary said that the revised Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of February 2007, which was signed during the visit of His Majesty the King to Delhi, reflected the desire of the two countries to not only enhance economic cooperation, but also served as an excellent identity of views developed over the years.
The new treaty, he said, also reaffirms the two countries’ desire to maintain the safety and security of their shared 700-kilometre-long open border.
Celebrating Bhutan’s march towards “constitutional, democratic monarchy” as it held its first-ever poll on Monday, India is committed to providing all possible assistance to Bhutan during its period of transition, he said.
He said that India has actively assisted the democratic transition of Bhutan by training poll officials and setting up Bhutan’s Election Commission, as well as providing over two million dollars in assistance, including electronic voting machines.
Replying to a question, the Foreign Secretary said that no agreements would be signed during the visit.
As far as assistance for Bhutan’s Tenth Five-Year Plan was concerned, Menon said substantial Indian assistance was in the offing.
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Loading ...Zakar for Friday July 30 2010
20th Day of the 06th Month - Iron Male Tiger Year
Auspicious for: Carrying out daily chores and making offerings.
Inauspicious for: Starting construction of new house, sowing seeds, planting flowers, entering the new house, shifting houses, calling upon superiors, starting business, doing charity works in the name of deceased, taking out dead bodies, paying grain debts, undertaking long journey and holding discussion.
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[...] >> Indian Prime Minister arrives today [...]
[...] Indian Prime Minister arrives todayEnhancing economic and hydropower cooperation between India and Bhutan will be the key focus areas of the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhâs two-day visit to Bhutan which began today. Briefing the media earlier about the visit, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years, will […] [...]
[...] Indian Prime Minister arrives todayEnhancing economic and hydropower cooperation between India and Bhutan will be the key focus areas of the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhâs two-day visit to Bhutan which began today. Briefing the media earlier about the visit, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years, will […] [...]