India, Bhutan ink MoUs in hydropower

NEW DELHI: Increasing the pace of cooperation in the hydropower sector, India and Bhutan signed four agreements to conduct technical surveys for hydropower projects. The four MoUs related to the hydropower sector were part of 12 agreements that were signed after discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is on his first foreign visit since his coronation last year.

India and Bhutan have decided to prepare detailed project reports for the Kuri Gongri, Chamkharchhu-1 and Kholongchhu hydropower projects and Amochu reservoir project. The Kuri Gongri project is proposed to generate 1,800-mw power, the Chamkharchhu-1 670 mw and the Kholongchhu 670 mw. Further, the two sides have also agreed to conclude implementation agreements for Punatsangchhu-2 project

Bhutan uses 400 mw and has an installed capacity of 1,500 mw of power. The entire surplus comes to India which is helping Bhutan increase its capacity to 10,000 mw till 2020. Last year Mr Singh had announced that India would help Bhutan increase installed capacity to 10,000 mw. Already India has given assistance to Bhutan to build three hydroelectric projects at Chukha, Kurichu and Tala and is helping with the construction of Punatsangchhu-1 project.

Apart from the MoUs on the hydropower projects, the two sides also signed eight other agreements in areas ranging from agriculture to health to civil aviation. The two sides signed an agreement to set up the Bhutan Institute of Medical Sciences in Thimphu and an agreement on an IT project , which plans to make nearly half of Bhutan’s population e-literate .