Indian ambassador express concern over Myanmar projects

Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Seshadri, expressed concern over the slow pace of development of Indian hydropower projects in Myanmar.

In his communiqué to the India Ministry of External Affairs and other quarters of the government, Seshadri has asserted that NHPC, responsible for submission of final reports relating to additional investigations of the 1200 MW Tamanthi HEP and 640 MW Shwezaye hydro-power projects, has shown extreme laxity in doing so. He has claimed that even as the timeline given to the hydropower company for submission of the Tamanthi HEP report has come and gone, it has failed to submit the report till date. Even the schedule allowed for submission of the Shwezaye HEP is expected to be missed.

In addition, it may be mentioned that in Myanmar, particularly in the hydropower sector, it is a general practice for local partners of foreign companies to undertake tasks of seeking clearances and facilitating approvals, as local companies are in a better way familiar with rules and procedures and have a working relationship with the concerned officials.