Modi govt tweaks rules to benefit Adani power amid Bangladesh unrest
New Delhi: The Indian government has quietly amended its power export guidelines, a move that many are viewing as an effort to protect the interests of the politically connected Adani Group.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the amendment, which allows Adani Power to divert its Bangladesh-bound electricity to the Indian grid, comes amid growing political upheaval in Bangladesh and persistent controversy over the terms of the deal.
An internal memo from the Indian power ministry, reported by Reuters, reveals that the 2018 guidelines have been modified to permit the sale of power within India if a power generator faces “sustained non-scheduling of full or part capacity” or delayed payments from the buyer. The change appears tailor-made for Adani Power, which operates a 1600-megawatt plant in Jharkhand’s Godda district that supplies electricity exclusively to Bangladesh.
This move raises questions about the relationship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group. The deal between Adani Power and the Bangladesh government has been controversial from the start, with experts criticizing the exorbitant rates at which Dhaka is purchasing power. Political parties in Bangladesh have gone so far as to call the deal “extremely uneven” and accuse the Modi government of having ulterior motives.
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has already expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement, having requested a revision in 2023. Notably, the memorandum of understanding between the Adani Group and the Bangladeshi government was signed in August 2015, shortly after Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bangladesh—a timing that has not gone unnoticed by opposition parties in India.
Critics argue that this latest amendment is a calculated move by the Modi government to safeguard the Adani Group’s interests amid growing instability in Bangladesh. Opposition leaders have questioned whether Prime Minister Modi was directly involved in securing the deal, which has only served to deepen concerns about crony capitalism under his administration.
