Bihar to demand 200 MW electricity from Centre to meet crisis

Patna, Sep 23 (UNI) In view of the present power crisis in Bihar, the state government has decided to demand at least 200 MW additional electricity from the Centre.

Bihar Energy Minister Vijendra Yadav here today said that he would place the demand on behalf of his government at the first meeting of the group of ministers with the Union government which is sheduled tomorrow in New Delhi.

Before leaving for New Delhi, Mr Yadav told UNI that at least 1500 MW electricity was required to meet the energy demand in the state. In view of the present requirement, he would request the Centre to provide at least 200 MW electricity immediatly.

Mr Yadav said that the state was purchasing electricity from the central sectors, since its own generation in thermal unit was presently almost nil. He said the BHEL had been entrusted for the capacity maintainence and modernisation of the Thermal power units of Muzaffarpur and Barauni and for this, both the units were shut down since 2003.

He said the progress of the maintainence work was unsatisfactory as BHEL failed to perform as per the agreement. Under such circumstances, Mr Yadav said he would also request the centre to scrap the agreement with BHEL in the interest of Bihar.

He further said the government was exploring other alternatives for providing uninterupted power supply during Ramzan and Dussehra.

UNI