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Adani Power project to supply electricity to Bangladesh crosses major

India’s plan to deepen its friendship by providing power to Bangladesh is gathering steam with an Indian expert panel finally clearing the terms of reference (ToR) for the 1,600 megawatt (MW) thermal power project of Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd in Jharkhand.ToRs are guidelines for conducting environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies of projects, based on which the ministry of environment, forest and climate change grants or rejects green clearance to a project.The 1,600MW Godda thermal power project in Jharkhand is the result of an agreement between India and Bangladesh signed in January 2010 with a view to enhancing their ties through economic cooperation.

The agreement, signed by Adani Power and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), is aimed at developing the thermal power plant and supplying the entire power generated to BPDB through a dedicated transmission line.The Rs.13,906 crore project was, however, put on hold in May over environmental concerns such as inadequate information about the withdrawal of water from the nearby Chir river and the water use.Meanwhile, the environment ministry’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) of thermal power and coal-mining projects had asked Adani Power (Jharkhand) to seek a clarification from the state government’s water resources department regarding the requirement of National Ganga River.