Delegation of MPs from Bihar Meets Power Minister

A delegation of Members of Parliament (MPs) from Bihar led by Shri Sushil Kumar Modi met Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Incharge) Power, Coal and Renewable Energy here today to discuss issues related to power sector, coal sector, etc with a view to enabling supply of more power to Bihar along with resolution of issues related to assistance under central sector schemes.

The major pending projects discussed were, Barh - II, Ultra mega power plant (Banka), Renovation & Modernisation of State Sector Plant, Barauni (210 MW) plant.

Coal allocation issues relating to Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPP) in Bihar (4000 MW) were also discussed. Ministry of coal has agreed to allocate a coal block for Bihar UMPP. It was also indicated that Barh – II Unit 4 (660 MW) of NTPC will be operational commercially by the end of this month (June 2014).

The issue of setting up of 1320 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project by SJVNL was also discussed. As per MoU between SJVNL and Bihar 85% of power from the project is to be supplied into the Transmission Grid of Bihar State. Ministry of Coal already allocated Deocha Pachami Coal Block (2102 MT) located in Barauni District of West Bengal for this Project with 6 State Power Utilities. Certificate of possession of private land has been issued by District Land Acquisition Officer, Buxar for total land of 1048.72 acres. Cabinet approval for diversion of total 13.34 acre Government land has also been obtained.

As regards allocation of power from Central sector plants, it was apprised that presently the central sector share for Bihar is 1918 MW from 6 central sector plants and 3 plants situated in Bhutan. These are NTPC plants of Farrakka, Kahalgaon, Barh, Talcher in the Thermal sector, as also share from hydro plants such as Rangit (NEEPCO), Teesta – V (NHPC) as well as power plants situated in – Chukha, Kurichu and Tala. This allocation will be enhanced to 3,365 from forthcoming 3 central sector projects such as Barh I Unit-1,2 & 3, Barh II Unit-1 & 2,Muzzaffarpur Extension Unit-1&2. Bihar will also benefit from 3 other Central Sector projects, namely, Buxar, Pirpanti, Lakhisarai apart from share in at least 2 private sector plants such as Essar, GMR, etc.

In the State sector there is only one power plant i.e. Barauni (210 MW) which is under Renovation & Modernisation. Currently 2,346 MW of power demand is being met in the State from central sector plant, State sector and from power procured through the exchange. The energy deficit is reported to be about 4.6%.

The issue relating to burning of transformers installed under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) Scheme was discussed. On the request of State Government, higher capacity distribution transformers (63 KVA and 100 KVA) have already been permitted in the future projects.

RM/RS