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Patna,(BiharTimes): After getting an appointment from PMO an all-party delegation from Bihar, led by chief minister Nitish Kumar, called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday and sought increased allocation of electricity to the state from the Barh and Kahalgaon units of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). |
The delegation, which met the Prime Minister at his residence, also demanded coal linkage to the 500 MW Barauni extension power project in the state.
Explaining the precarious power position in Bihar Nitish said Bihar was a victim of injustice. He said all the parties have reached a consensus on the question of power-sharing formula. The delegation submitted two memoranda to the Prime Minister, requesting him to take steps that would reduce the power crisis in the state. The first memorandum urged the Prime Minister to allocate 50 per cent electricity as “home state share” each from the upcoming Stage-1 of Barh and Stage-2 of Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Stations of NTPC as has been done in case of 14 upcoming NTPC projects elsewhere in the country. This would mean an additional supply of about 990 MW from Barh (which is to produce 1980 MW of power) and 750 MW from Kahalgaon to the state.
The second memorandum sought coal linkage for the Barauni thermal power station extension project. This project is being executed with state resources and work has been awarded to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. The Prime Minister heard the views of the delegation and assured that he would discuss the issues with the Union power and coal ministers. He hoped to work out a positive resolution of the two issues. Deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, energy minister Vijendra Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Legislative Council Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Gulam Ghaus respectively of RJD, Sadanand Singh of Congress, Kedar Pandey of CPI, Basudev Singh of CPM and Zakir Hussain Khan of LJP were part of the delegation.Nitish later told reporters that this is a minimum demand the state had made to the Centre.
The delegation hope the Union government would fulfil it.He said the Barauni power plant is a central government unit and hence it is the responsibility of the Centre to ensure regular coal supply for its two new units of 250 MW each which are in final stages.
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