Not to Scale Issue with Hydropower projects Bhutan supplies power to India at very cheap rate. Bhutan alleged that India wanted greater role in management on joint venture Hydro projects in Bhutan. Cross Border Trade of Electricity (CBTE) issued by power ministry will establish the monopoly of India being Bhutan’s sole power market. It restricts the type of hydro power investments that could be made in Bhutan.
Hydro power plants are also attached with certain environmental concerns. Steps taken to boost relations There is a frequent visit of state heads to boost the bilateral relations. India announced assistance for establishment of an E-Project covering all the districts of Bhutan. The Prime Minister coined the idea of B2B as ‘Bharat to Bhutan’ for building effective and renewed bilateral relationship.
Bhutan recently become the largest beneficiary of India’s foreign aid. A , strong Indian Military Training Not to Scale Team (IMTRAT) is permanently based in western Bhutan to train the Royal Bhutan Army, while other units regularly cooperate with the Royal Bhutan Army. Way Ahead . India-Bhutan relationship is like ‘milk and water’.
They cannot be separated. Therefore India should leave no stone unturned to maintain good relations with Bhutan. . India needs to complete some of the hydropower projects that were delayed due to lack of funds.
. India has a very good relationship with Bhutan whereas China has many border disputes with Bhutan. This relationship and goodwill must be maintained to counter China’s strategic calculations in Bhutan and the region. .
India needs to augment the connectivity of Bhutan and its North Eastern states for the region’s economic development. . India needs to combine the Gross National Happiness of Bhutan with its own economic development to maintain a shared prosperity and relationship between the two countries.