Bihar govt spends Rs 50,000 crores for improvement of power scenario

Patna, Mar 12 (UNI) The Bihar government has decided to spend Rs 50,000 crores during the current plan period for total overhauling and improvement of erratic power situation in the state by 2010.

Announcing this while replying to the three-hour long debate on Rs 1881,91,78,000 energy bill for 2008-09 in the state Assembly here today, Bihar Energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav lambasted both the UPA government at the Centre and the previous RJD regime for their '' unconcerned and lackadaisical attitude and total faiure'' towards improving the ''pathetic'' power position in the state.

Alleging that neither any serious effort had been made by the previous government, nor was there any positive step by the UPA government to increase the allotment of power from the central grid from the present of only 750 MW, Mr Yadav claimed that since coming to power about 28 months ago the Nitish Kumar government had taken a number of 'positive steps' to improve the overall scenario and allocated Rs 50,000 crores for this purpose during the 11th plan period.

Citing examples, he said, apart from improving the capacity of the Barauni Thermal power plant by 500 MW, they had signed two MOUs with the power giant NTPC for installing two 250 MW each plants at Nabinagar in Auragabad district by 2010.

Moreover, the capacity of the Patratu power station would be improved by at least 300 MW during the same period, the minister said and cited a number of other examples to drive his point home.

Referring to the state's huge potential for hydro-electric power generation, the Energy minister said the Japanese Power Corporation following a detailed survey had found that at least 1,000 mw of power could be generated with the available resources within the next two years.

''We are currently negoiating with the foreign company and trying to arrange necessary funds from the Asian Development Bank at the earliest to tap the potential,'' the minister informed the House.

Later the bill was passed in the Assembly through voice votes but without including the opposition sponsored cut motions.

UNI ABA KK/src1857