The Hindu Business Line : Tripura seeks long-term policy for utilisation of gas reserves

The Tripura Government has sought a long-term Central policy for the effective utilisation of the State's substantial natural gas reserves (around 53 billion cu. m, in non-associate form and fit for use as fuel-feedstock).

In a dialogue with the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, here recently, Mr Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura, has pointed out that the GAIL pipelines from Myanmar should go through the north-eastern States.

According to the Chief Minister, who described natural gas as an opportunity sector for investments in Tripura, the success rate for gas exploration in Tripura was much higher than in other parts of the country.

The Tripura Government is viewing natural gas, bamboo and natural rubber as the three main opportunity sectors in the State.

Stressing on speedy infrastructure development as the key for development of the State, Mr Sarkar called for immediate upgradation of NH-44 (the lifeline of Tripura's economy, which connects Agartala with Guwahati - 587 km), and its linking with the East-West corridor. Tripura has 44 km of border with Assam in the plains area, and 865 km of border with Bangladesh, mostly plains.

He added the erstwhile road, rail and waterways links between Tripura and Bangladesh, which were extensive and conveniently located in the pre-Partition period, could be restored with minimum effort.

Agreeing with Mr Sarkar's suggestions, Mr Ramesh agreed to convey these to the concerned ministries of the Cenral Government.

Trade with Bangladesh

He also gave an assurance that the various proposals made by the Tripura Government for expanding trade between Tripura and Bangladesh would be considered. Some of these include access to Chittagong, Sherpur and Ashuganj ports, and speedy development of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link.

He said the Commerce Ministry would support a Tripura-Bangladesh Trade Fair to be held in Agartala in March 2007.

Responding to the State Government's plea, Mr Ramesh said he was hopeful that the Prime Minister would soon announce his decision on the extension of fiscal incentives (which expire on March 31, 2007) as part of the North-East Industrial Policy. He added that the region in fact needed a special package to keep the investments momentum going.

While Assam and Meghalaya have received 92 per cent (50 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively) of the overall investments so far of Rs 1,200 cr, Tripura's share of this has been a meagre 2-3 per cent.

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