Dhaka, Sep.7 (ANI): Describing water as a very sensitive subject in both India and Bangladesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said that though no deal on the sharing the waters of the Teesta and Feni rivers was reached during his visit, both countries would redouble efforts to arrive at a mutually acceptable pact.
"Both sides worked very hard to arrive at a solution that would be acceptable to all. Unfortunately these efforts did not meet with success within the time available. I have asked all the concerned officials to intensify their efforts towards finding a viable formula which does not cause undue distress to all those, in India or in Bangladesh, who are dependent on the flows of the river," Singh said in his address to faculty and students of Dhaka University.
"We have shown that, in a spirit of friendship and mutual accommodation, we can agree on cooperative arrangements based on the principles of equity, fair play and no harm to either party. The Ganga Water Treaty signed in 1996 is one such example which has stood the test of time," he added.
On the Tipaimukh dam project in India, Singh said India will not take steps that will adversely affect Bangladesh.
He also said that both countries were making serious efforts to improve border infrastructure, particularly the Land Customs Stations. New Integrated Check Posts are coming up at Petrapole in West Bengal, Agartala in Tripura and Dawki in Meghalaya.
The border haat at Kalaichar-Baliamari in Meghalaya has been inaugurated, and procedures for movement of trucks from Bhutan and Nepal to Bangladesh have been finalized, he added.
"Power connectivity and energy cooperation are emerging as major pillars of our economic relationship. Work on a transmission line which will evacuate up to 500 megawatt of power to Bangladesh from India has begun. A feasibility study for the establishment of a 1320 megawatt power plant in Khulna has been completed," Singh said.
"We have agreed on the need to enhance greater exchanges at all levels to foster deeper understanding. We have agreed to further intensify academic, cultural, sports, and youth exchanges," he concluded. (ANI)
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