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Patna, (Bihar Times): In a rare display of unity
leaders from Bihar, cutting across the party-lines,
called on the Union agriculture, energy and oil
ministers on Monday evening and sought more attention
for the state.
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Led by the chief minister Nitish Kumar the all-party
delegation urged that top priority should be given to
Bihar, which is facing food grains, Kerosene, LPG and
electricity crisis, especially after the devastating
flood of the last monsoon. The idea of all-party
delegation came up at the meeting of the leaders of
different political parties in Patna on January 29.
While calling on Murli Deora, Union Petroleum and
Natural gas Minister in his chamber the delegation
requested him to increase the allotment of Kerosene
and LPG quota to cater to the essential needs of the
people of Bihar. Deora assured them that by coming
Monday he will convey the action being taken in this
regard to the Chief Minister.
The delegation than called on agriculture minister,
Sharad Pawar, in his official chamber and requested
him to increase the release of quota of essential food
grains to cater the needs of the people of Bihar.
Pawar conceded that the flood increased the problem of
Bihar and assured that he would put up the issue
before the cabinet and that the Planning Commission
would be taken into confidence. Every BPL family gets
35 kg food grains per month and as such 4,23,500
metric tonnes food grains is required for the needy
people of Bihar.
The delegation late in the evening met Union Energy
Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and apprised him of the
present situation in the state. He was told that at
present the state was totally dependent on the supply
of electricity from central government because the
production in state is only 120 MW––70 from Baruni and
50 from Kanti thermal power plants.
The supply of electricity from Central pool is 1169 MW
but actually only 680-750 MW is made available to
Bihar these days. Out of this 350 MW is supplied to
Nepal and to essential services.
Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Abdul Bari Siddique,
State President RJD, Shakil Ahmad Khan, deputy leader
RJD in the House, Sadanand Singh, State President of
Congress, Maheshwar Singh, leader of LJP in the House,
Badri Narayan Lal, State Secretary CPI, Zulffikar Ali
Bari, State General Secretary NCP, Vijay Kant Thakur,
State Secretary CPI (M), Gopal Kumar Aggarwal MLA of
Samajwadi Party, Radha Mohan Singh, State President
BJP, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, State
President JD (U) and Shrawan Kumar, Chief whip of JD
(U) form the delegation.
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