MOUs to augment power generation in Bihar tomorrow

Patna, May 28 (UNI) The Bihar government will sign two MOUs and a work agreement tomorrow with the central electricity agencies to augment power generation by 220 MW in the state during the next one and a half years.

Official seal would be put on the relevant documents in this regard at a meeting here between the state government and concerned Central government corporations in presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shindhe.

State Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said here that the work agreement would be signed with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for renovation and modernisation of Kanti thermal power station near Muzaffarpur with an installed capacity of 110 MW.

'' An MOU was signed few months back with the NTPC in this regard when a new venture Vaishali Power Limited was launched, '' he said.

Mr Yadav said the Bihar Government would contribute approximately Rs 350 crore as the state's share and draw from the allocations under Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna. The renovated plant with modern machineries was likely to be commissioned in nearly one and half years, he added.

The Minister said the MOU would provide for 75 per cent share to NTPC for renovation and modernisation leaving the remaining 25 shares for the state government.

Mr Yadav said an MOU would be signed for similar renovation and modernisation of Barauni thermal power station, which had installed capacity of generating 110 MW power.

The state government would contribute Rs 250 crore in the project raised from Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna, Mr Yadav said.

Another MOU would be signed with Power Grid Corporation of India LTD (PGCIL) for laying power transmission line across the state at a cost of Rs 629 crore.

UNI/DH-BNG SJC ARB VC1938