Patna, Jan 31 : Power starved Bihar's 126 MW capacity Dagmara hydropower project in Supaul district has got environmental clearance from the central government, official sources said Thursday.

The centre's nod has relieved the Bihar government, which is facing violent protests due to the worst power crisis the state has ever seen.

Three people were killed and at least two dozen injured in police firing in Kahalgaon town in Bhagalpur district Jan 18 when people were protesting against electricity outages.

According to sources in Bihar State Hydro Power Corporations (BHPC), the Ministry of Environment and Forests has found no environmental hazard with the setting up of the Dagmara hydropower project and has given its clearance.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had already agreed to provide Rs.4 billion for the project.

A senior BHPC official told IANS that work on the project would begin this year and would be completed in the next three years if everything went according to plan.

After the completion of the project, overall power situation in the state's Kosi region is expected to improve considerably.

Last September, an agreement was signed between the BHPC and the central government's Water and Power Consultancy Services Ltd. (Wapcos) for preparation of a detailed project report.

The project is estimated to cost Rs.6 billion.

(IANS)