Bihar will become energy surplus state by 2015: Minister

Patna, Mar 9: Bihar will become an power surplus state by raising over 5000 MW from various sources by 2015, state Energy minister Vijendra Yadav said today.

The energy scenario in the state was bound to improve soon with a number of power projects being at various stages of construction from which over 5000 MW will come to the state''s way by 2015, Yadav said while replying to a debate on the Energy department's budget of Rs 2916 crore for the financial year 2011-12.

Bihar will also get additional power from a number of ultra power projects being constructed across the country, Yadav said.

Besides generation of surplus power, the state government was also laying transmission infrastructure for which about Rs 4000 crore have been spent till date and 90 per cent work completed, he said, adding that the remaining work will be done soon.

Yadav attacked the UPA government at Centre for "creating obstacles" in the state government's plans to set up hydel power projects, including that on the river Ganga, besides denying the state''s share of 50 per cent power from those projects being constructed in the state on technical ground.

He claimed that the Centre was not giving coal linkages to the state for use in the proposed thermal power projects in Bihar and was instead offering coal blocks for the purpose which would require massive capital expenditure.

PTI