India 'consulted' Tipai construction

Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday said India has "consulted" construction of Tipaimukh dam with Bangladesh after having the matter examined by their experts.
"The perception that India has not consulted Bangladesh about building of the Tipaimukh dam is wrong and out of line," said Pinak Ranjan at a seminar. "The proposal of the project has been provided for Bangladesh," he added.
"Feasibility and design of the dam has been examined by Indian experts," he told the seminar titled "South Asian Connectivity: Bangladesh Perspective," organised by Bangladesh-India Friendship Society at Hotel Sonargaon.
He however said informing Bangladesh about the dam was delayed as examination about it required much time. But he did not mention exactly when India consulted with Bangladesh in this regard.
"Fear of earthquake or environmental hazard are hypothetical and never been substantiated by any scientific data. There is no scientific data," he added.
"There is a perception and speculation that India is breaking international treaty. There is no international treaty in this regard. There is a UN convention in which at least 35 countries need to sign to turn the convention into a law.
"As of today only 17 countries signed this and it has not become a law yet. And interestingly, India and Bangladesh also did not sign," added Pinak Ranjan.
Calling the dam a "death trap" is nothing but "scale mongering" and inciting people against India, he said, adding India has invited a team from Bangladesh to visit India and the site.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, chief guest at the seminar, said, "We need to build network and greater connectivity. Even the Saarc could not be made effective in all the years in the region due to lack of integration."
Three papers were submitted at the seminar. Prof Abul Barkat presented a paper titled "Economic implications of South Asian connectivity," while Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presented his paper titled "Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna regional cooperation in water and energy development and sharing".
Adviser of Planning Commission Dr M Rahmatullah presented another paper, while former secretary Syed Margub Morshed and Dr Amena Hossain, among others, spoke.
Former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof AK Azad presided over the seminar conducted by Dr Selina Akter Jahan.