The state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) inked the bulk power transmission treaty with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) at a ceremony witnessed by Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Prime Minister’s energy adviser Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury and concerned officials of both the countries.

The agreement keeps the provision for Bangladesh to export power to India in the future while PGCIL was tasked to construct, own, operate and maintain a 400-KV double-circuit line to exchange 500-MW power between the two neighbouring countries soon after the system is launched.

“It’s (agreement) a small step but a greater thought in regional cooperation through which the South Asian countries will immensely benefit,” Muhith said.

According to the agreement, the transmission tariff will be fixed later by the Energy Regulatory Commission of West Bengal while BPDB will pay the transmission tariff on a monthly basis.

Under the agreement PGCIL will invest and construct 80 kilometre transmission line and own, operate and maintain it.

The Indian company will recover the construction cost under a fixed rate over 35 years.

“If in future we can export power, the beneficiary or the Indian consumers will share the cost. This is why this agreement is a power exchange deal,” BPDB chairman Alamgir Kabir said.

The Indian part of the infrastructure will also include a 400 KV switching station at Baharampur, loop-in and loop-out of Farakka-Jeerat 400 KV single circuit line at the same place, and a 400 KV double circuit line from Baharampur of India running up to Bheramara in Bangladesh.

On the other hand in other side of the border, the state-run Power Grid Company of Bangladesh floated a tender in April to set up a 40 km transmission line in Bheramara with a high voltage sub-station at a cost of US$150 million to be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Bangladesh currently faces electricity deficit of over 1500 to 1800 mw on an average against the de-rated capacity of 4500 mw in 132 state run and private units.

The government recently formulated a vision plan as part of its desperate efforts to augment electricity amid growing demands while the poor power supply is estimated to cost around two percent in GDP growth each year according a study of the World Bank.

Only around 40 per cent of Bangladesh is currently have access to electricity while the country now witnesses a deficit of 1,000 to 1,500 mw power with 41 public and private sector plants with de-rated capacity of 5,198 mw.

Replying to a question she said the government has adopted a plan to set up Bangabandhu International Airport as per the election manifesto. The proposed international airport will act as a bridge between the countries of East and West.

Hasina informed the House that the committee formed for the purpose has already submitted its pre-feasibility study report.

Besides, work for formulating document to set up the airport on the basis of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme is under process.

The Prime Minister said Cox’s Bazar Airport would be upgraded to an international standard at a cost of Tk 302.65 crore by 2012. Development of Cox’s Bazar Airport Phase-1 is expected to be implemented by June 2012.

She further informed that the government has taken measures to set up a domestic airport at Rampal of Bagerhat to aid Mongla Port and the tourist spots of the area. A project titled “Construction of Khanjahan Ali Airport (Rampal, Bagerhat)” will be implemented at a cost of Tk 470.30 crore. The airport will provide quick transport facility between the south and western districts.

On healthcare the Prime Minister said the government is committed to provide healthcare facilities to the people for which 3551 physicians were appointed on ad-hoc basis.

Responding to a question during the PM’s question hour she said 1,445 nurses were also appointed recently.

She said that 6,347 medical assistants were appointed at the field level. Process is on for recruitment of another 1,581 medical assistants.

Hasina said that to provide better healthcare to the people across the country, the government already gave clearance for appointment of doctors at different levels.

The government is also distributing modern equipment to hospitals for improved treatment of patients. Strict measures have been taken to ensure attendance of doctors, officers and employees in all public hospitals, she added.

On jute sector the PM criticised the BNP-Jamaat government for “destroying” the jute industry and expressed her government’s firm determination to regain the lost share of jute goods in the world market.

Replying to a supplementary question, she said the “BNP-Jamaat government intentionally destroyed” the country’s jute sector by closing down government-owned jute mills one after another.

“As a result, we lost the share of jute in the world market and the present government is determined to regain that share.”

Responding to another supplementary question, the Prime Minister said the previous BNP-led government had taken ‘policy of shrinking’ for the jute sector. “This was the end… they just destroyed the jute sector.”

She, however, said that the golden days of jute are coming back and the government would do whatever is possible to develop this sector.

The increased production will be available by end of 2012, he told Reuters, adding that it comes at a time when the south Asian country is facing yawning gap between supply and demand for gas.

Monsur said to hasten the project, Bangladesh will avoid seeking funds for the pipeline from World Bank or any other multilateral financing agency but would pay for it from the state coffers.

He said Chevron had informed Petrobangla that it had identified additional gas production capacity and needed infrastructure to connect the fields with the national supply network.

Bangladesh at present faces up to 400 mmcft gas shortages a day, with the authorities supplying at best nearly 2,000 mmcft per day.

Chevron currently produces almost half the country’s gas supplies under two production sharing contracts.

He said this while speaking at the inaugural programme of sapling distribution of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) at Mercantile Marine House Field yesterday.

He stressed the need for creating mass awareness to preserve forest and inspire people to plant more trees to deal with the negative impacts of climate change.

He urged the private organisations to play role in afforestation in a planned way to save people from environmental disaster and protect bio-diversity.

Head of corporate and regulatory affairs of BATB Zakir Ibne Hai said BATB would distribute around 40 lakh saplings free of cost this year.

Divisional commissioner Md Serajul Huq Khan, DIG of police, Chittagong Range Asaduzzaman Mia and divisional forest officer Md Badrul Anam Bhuiyan spoke at the function.

Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the meeting.

The Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara project under the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) seeks to protect the lake from illegal occupation and to reclaim and preserve the water retention capacity of the lake as well as its beautification.

The other projects likely to be considered in the meeting are special development of University of Dhaka (4th phase) under the education ministry, Special Rural Water Supply Project under the Local Government Division, setting up single line miter gauge railway tracks on Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar and Ramu-Gundum near Myanmar border under the Roads and Railways Division, construction of Dirai-Shalla highway near Madanpur-Dirai-Shalla road under the Roads and Railways Division, 2D seismic survey under fast track programme under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, rural infrastructure development project in greater Faridpur (2nd phase) under the Local Government Division, and coordinated forest development (2nd phase) under the Agriculture Ministry.

The meeting is also likely review the ADP implementation progress of the Roads and Railways Division.

Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Faiz Ahmed told the news agency Thursday that the administration with the active cooperation of the public representatives and the police would soon take stern action against the unscrupulous hill cutters.

Mr Faiz was addressing a meeting at the city’s Circuit House.

He said, “The administration has also decided to discuss the matter in the meeting to be attended by upazila chairmen, vice chairmen, upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), district and metropolitan police, and representatives of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC),” he said.

Faiz Ahmed said it was the sacred responsibility of all to save hills and environment from the hill cutters to protect the picturesque beauty of the port city and also the next generations from the adverse impacts of climate change.

The entire hill range from Mirsharai via Chittagong to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district with its large numbers of greenery was the symbol of boundless natural beauty and geographical uniqueness, protecting the people and their property from natural disasters like earthquake and tidal surge for decades as hills are considered as ‘Isocratic balance’ of the earth.

Experts said indiscriminate cutting and destruction of hills were not only posing a great threat to entire ecology and bio-diversity but also causing various man-made disasters on the economy and the urban life in the region.

According to official and unofficial sources, at least 200 hills, both small and big, were either destroyed or razed down by the influential land developer syndicates as well as individuals over the last one decade in the city and on its outskirts.

They said famous hills and mountains in Chandgaon, Pahartali, Khulshi, Kotwali, Doublemooring, Bayezeed Bostami and Hathazari and Sitakunda upazilas were either leveled or razed down heavily by the land terrors.

Local people said organised syndicates in connivance with influential persons were running this illegal business by cutting hills.

More that 200 people were killed under landslides while 137 people died on March 11 in 2007 due to hill cutting over the years, sources said.

Officials of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) said the 1985 act should be amended to discourage hill cutting in the region.

Different socio-cultural organisations including members of the civil society and environment activists vehemently protested the illegal hill cutting through holding rallies, processions, seminars and human chains for a long time.

“But all cries to protect the hills seems to have gone unheard,” said Dr Jahangir Alam, an environmentalist and professor of CU of Engineering and Technology (CUET).

He stressed on further strengthening the 12-member monitoring committee against hill cutting formed in 2008.

Following are some questions and answers about the controversy over the Tipaimukh dam that India expects will help tackle floods and also produce hydel electricity. Hasina will discuss the issue with her Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh.

What is the Tipaimukh Dam Project?

India has approved plans for a 1,500-megawatt hydroelectric dam in northeastern Manipur state on the BarakRiver, which flows into Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Why is it controversial?
The Tipaimukh dam may affect the life and livelihood of some 20 million Bangladeshis living in the northeastern region, with farming, fishing, carrying merchandise on boats their main occupation. About 100 villages inIndia’s Manipur could also be inundated.

Some experts have warned that two rivers in Bangladesh’s Sylhet region — the Surma and Kushiara — will dry up if India dams a third river, the Barak, at Tipaimukh.

Dhaka says it will carefully inspect and evaluate the plan before confirming India can go ahead with the dam.

Originally designed to contain floods in the region, the dam was turned into a power project by India, where electricity shortage — pegged at 16.6 percent during hours of peak consumption last year — is a daunting barrier to development.

The proposed dam offers the possibility of India selling some of the power it generates to Bangladesh. Hasina’s government says it is trying to address nagging power shortages that have slowed industries and kept investors away. Hasina is also likely to discuss buying electricity while in New Delhi.

Why is it a political issue in Bangladesh?

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia has threatened to launch a massive street protest if Hasina agrees to the building of the dam by India.

Government officials say BNP is trying to make noise over the Tipaimukh dam for political gains by provoking anti-India sentiment.

Hasina’s rivals are also opposing plans by her to sign a deal with New Delhi on sharing of water from the Teesta, which is among several rivers flowing from the Himalayas into Bangladesh, providing a lifeline to both farming and ecology in both countries.

They say the deal favours India. India and Bangladesh already have a water-sharing pact for the Ganges.

An important element has been public statements from respected third-party advocates for nuclear, many of whom were previously either strongly opposed or seen as agnostic. Some of these come from the environmental movement, notably Patrick Moore, one of the founders of Greenpeace, but the support of James Lovelock, the originator of the Gaia Theory of the Earth as a self-regulating organism, has been particularly important.

There has been a clear shift of public opinion in favour of nuclear energy in key countries, with public consent now unlikely to be withheld from new reactor plans in many countries of the world. Public opposition to nuclear, however, remains an important issue in some European countries, notably in Germany, but the new government there and reversal of nuclear phase-out policies in Sweden and Belgium indicate that things are generally improving. The industry has recognised that securing public buy-in is critical and conditional upon in-depth dialogue. It accepts that concerns over safety, waste and non-proliferation will continue to impose a strict regulatory regime on the industry and that this is necessary, despite it costing a great deal of valuable time and money.

One possible barrier to renewed industry growth is the 20-year mummification of the industry’s supply sector. However, this is changing, with membership of the UK Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) booming as companies realise that there will be many new opportunities in this sector as the UK returns to building reactors. Another possible negative, namely the need to ensure a strict world non-proliferation regime, has been reinforced by the North Korean and Iranian cases, to which endless column inches and analyses have been devoted.  On the other hand, three highly important factors have moved very strongly in the industry’s favour: the industry’s own operating performance, the greenhouse gas emissions debate and concerns over energy security of supply.

The 435 reactors around the world generate electricity very cheaply and earns significant profits for their owners, irrespective of the power market, whether it is liberalised or regulated. The challenge for the industry is to cut the capital investment costs of new reactors to enable many new reactor projects to go forward. Concerns over climate change and the perceived need to moderate greenhouse gas emissions has worked strongly in the industry’s favour and, at the very least, have opened an opportunity for the industry as a viable mitigation technology. The argument for more nuclear power as a means of securing additional energy security of supply has also become increasingly important, particularly in those countries who perceive themselves as becoming increasingly reliant on supplies from geopolitically unstable or otherwise unattractive countries. It is important to recall that this was the main argument that prompted both France and Japan, now numbers two and three in world nuclear generation, to go down this path in the 1970s in the aftermath of two “oil shocks”.

Proof of whether the mooted nuclear renaissance is merely “industry hype” as some commentators suggest or reality will come over the next decade. Before many new countries can take on the challenge of running large nuclear reactors, the established players need to start building reactors again, and now is as good a time as any.

The environmental group on Wednesday presented Stelmach's spokesman, Jerry Bellikka, with two enlarged photos of tar-covered ducks, hoping the premier would take a look at the images.

They were entered as evidence at the ongoing trial against Syncrude, which faces environmental charges related to the April 2008 incident in which 1,600 ducks died in its Aurora tailings pond.

"It's time he stops hiding from these images. It's time he stops denying that these problems exist and starts admitting the problem," said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner.

Whether Stelmach has or hasn't seen the images has been a source of controversy at the legislature this week.

On Monday, Stelmach told reporters he had not seen the pictures. The following day, he clarified his remarks, saying he hadn't seen recent photos prior to their admission as evidence in the Syncrude trial.

French Greenpeace activists blocked a train carrying some 650 metric tons of radioactive waste in protest against the export of nuclear waste to Russia, the Greenpeace Russia website said.

A shipment of depleted uranium hexafluoride was due to be loaded onto the Captain Kuroptev in the port of Le Havre and sent to St. Petersburg. However, the ship weighed anchor and headed towards the port of Montoir-de-Bretagne pursued by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza.

The Greenpeace statement said the activists chained themselves to railway tracks, delaying rail traffic towards Montoir-de-Bretagne for more than four hours.

The activists said that the radioactive nuclear waste shipment from their country to Russia violates French law and an EU directive banning the import and export of dangerous waste.

In February, activists conducted several protests against nuclear waste transportation to Russia and its storage in the country.

The dangerous cargo belongs to the French nuclear group Areva, which has a contract with Russia, the only country in the world accepting uranium hexafluoride in industrial quantities. The deal lasts until at least 2014 so a few thousand tons of depleted uranium may be transported to the country.

Areva claims the waste is send to Russia for reprocessing and is to be returned to France, but critics say it is actually just waste. Over the past 15 years, Areva and its Brussels-based counterpart Urenco have dumped 140,000 tons of waste in Russia.