Indian Discussion Forum

Bhutan government will produce 10,000 MW of hydro-power for India by 2020 under a joint venture, its Consul General Dasho Tsering Wangda said today.

India will provide Rs 35,000 crore for the venture. "On India's request we will provide power annually from this project, which will be on a 70 per cent loan and 30 per cent grant," he told newsmen here.

The loan will be repayable in 12 years, while the entire technical support will be provided by India, Wangda said.

The envoy rejected the oft-repeated charge that release of excess water from dams in Bhutan constructed on rivers flowing thorugh Assam caused flash floods, particularly in lower Assam during the rainy season.

"This is totally false as our power projects do not displace people.