Double power target: Bhutan

Bhutan asked India to double its targets for hydel power generation in the plants maintained by India by 2020 to 10,000 megawatts.

Bhutan asked India to double its targets for hydel power generation in the plants maintained by India by 2020 to 10,000 megawatts. It also wanted to hold a third round of meeting before firming up projects in which it would like India’s contribution.

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King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Bhutan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, Jigmi Y Thinley conveyed this to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday.

Foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon said the officials had been instructed to look at doubling the initial target for 2020.

Nearly 80 per cent of the power generated in Bhutan is imported by India, the increased targets would imply greater revenues for Bhutan and fewer power cuts in India.

Officials said the two sides had also agreed to take a re-look at the Indian support for Bhutan’s tenth five-year plan, expected to be in excess of Rs 4,000 crore.

Menon also said India has made a commitment to Bhutan to lay the over 20 km railway line from Hashimara to Phuntsholing in Bhutan.