Pakistan's absence comes in the backdrop of recent souring of relations between the two countries following ceasefire violations by Pakistani security forces along the border in Jammu region.
"This invitation (to the meeting) is given by the secretary-general Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation). It is not our invitation. We are the host country. Secretary-general must have invited Pakistan," power and coal minister Piyush Goyal told reporters upon conclusion of the meet on Friday.
READ ALSO: Ceasefire violations: Decline in border firing after weeklong violence
Goyal said initial discussions have started for setting up an integrated regional power transmission grid. He said this project would strengthen economic ties among the Saarc nations and also deepen the people-to-people relationship.
The Saarc energy grid was first espoused in 2007 by then power minister Sushilkumar Shinde at the South Asia Energy Dialogue in Bhutan. It envisages linking the power systems of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and Pakistan through the Indian network acting as an interlink hub. Such interconnectivity will also allow regions facing shortage at any point to tap surplus in other areas.
Pieces of this grid already exist. India and Bhutan have a heavy-duty link with a capacity to wheel enough power to light up Delhi. A power exchange arrangement exists with Nepal for 25-50 mw and India has offered to provide 500 mw after putting suitable infrastructure by 2010-12. India is exporting about 500 mw to Bangladesh. Pakistan has been discussing importing 500 mw from India, progress of which could be stalled due to bilateral tensions.
For Sri Lanka, as TOI first reported on April 22, 2008, the two countries were working on a plan to lay a transmission line under the sea between Tamil Nadu's Rameshwaram and Talaimannar in the island nation. A report by the Indian state-owned transmission utility PowerGrid had then pegged the cost of the project at Rs 2,292 crore and said it could be completed within 42 months of getting investment approvals. Subsequently, the project lost traction.
Several similar regional grids are operating around the world, such as the one linking Central Asia, Russia and parts of Eastern Europe.
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