Bihar govt planning for pvt investment in energy sector

Patna, Feb 29 (UNI) The Bihar government today said it was all set to give the green light for private investment in the energy sector, besides enhancing electricity generation to meet the power crisis in the state.

Replying to a short noticed question of JD(U) member Dinesh Chandra Yadav in the Assembly, Bihar energy minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav admitted the on going power crisis saying it was geting just 600- 700 MW electricity from central sectors.

He said apart from increasing the generation, the state government was also trying for enhancement in the allocations of electricity from the central undertakings and other sectors.

The minister said that Vikas Metal, J S Infrastructure and other such private investors had already been given the go ahead signal for investment in power generation.

Mr Yadav said the government had selected Chausa, Buxar, Sandesh (Bhojpur), Kajra(Khagaria), Pirpaty(Bhagalpur) and Manihari (Katihar) for installation of power units for which the required infrastructure was being developed in the area.

He said the state government following the power crisis had asked the Centre to increase the allocation by 300 MW. The state was expecting to get 222 MW from the second unit of Kahalgaon Super Thermal power station and 50 MW Tista Hydel power project,he informed.

The minister said under the long term plan two units of 250 MW each would be established at Barauni Thermal Power station. Two more units having the same capacity would be set up in Kanti thermal power station jointly with the NTPC, he said adding that three units of 600 MW each would also be established at Navinagar in Aurangabad jointly by the Bihar state electricity board and the NTPC.

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