DHAKA: The mindset of Indian policymakers is a major stumbling block for trans-border power trade in the South Asian ‘grown quadrangle’ region that includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan, said an India expert on Wednesday. The visiting expert also said that the ‘Indian policymakers are apprehensive of regional cooperation, and India has no consistent policy on bilateral relations’.

Prof Mahendra P.Lama of the Jawaharlal Nehru University made the observations at a regional roundtable held in the Dhaka city on the socio-economic benefit of regional power trade.

He said around 80,000 megawatts of power were needed for electricity security of the region, which was yet to be produced. Nepal and Bhutan have the potential for producing thousands of megawatts of power, so they should be assisted to do so for the entire region’s benefit.