Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar yesterday made it clear that his state would be able to sell around 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh from its proposed Palatana Power Plant if the central government gives nod.

The power plant will generate a total of 726MW electricity. Half of it will be generated by 2012 while the rest by 2013.

Bangladesh has agreed to allow transportation of ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo) for the Palatana Power Plant through the Bangladesh territory (from Ashuganj to Agartala).

Addressing a business conference on “North East India and Bangladesh: Strengthening Ties" at Pragna Bhawan in Agartala, the chief minister said there is an agreement among the North-Eastern states to share the power from the plant and Tripura will get 200MWs of electricity from the sharing.

Manik Sarkar said during his visit to Dhaka, journalists asked him whether Bangladesh will get electricity from the Palatana plant and

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni also requested him to export power from the plant.

He informed that his state needs around 215MW power during its peak period and it has already the electricity. So, it would not be a problem to sell electricity to Bangladesh, he added.

He said the power his state will get from the plant will not be needed fully for Tripura. "So, we can easily sell at least 100MW electricity even after meeting our full demand."

He, however, said it would not be possible for the Tripura government to take decision to sell additional power to Bangladesh because it entirely depends on the Indian central government.

“The people of Tripura will gladly accept if there is a proposal from our central government to export additional power to Bangladesh,” the chief minister said suggesting Bangladesh to make necessary negotiation with the central government.

Earlier, Dipu Moni, while addressing the programme, said the Bangladesh government will extend all-out cooperation to transport the ODCs through its territory.