1980 MW Thermal Power Plant @ Shivanpur in Aurangabad.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for a 1980 MW capacity Thermal Plant at Shivanpur in Aurangabad on the 28th of January 2012. The power plant is being constructed by Nabinagar Power Generating Company Pvt. Ltd , a joint venture between NTPC and Bihar State Electricity Board. Salient features of this power plant are:

1. The power plan is being contructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 12,965 crores.
2. It will have 3 units of 660MW each in the first phase.
3. Two more units of 660MW each will be constructed in the subsequent phases.
4. The first phase is likely to be commissioned by 2015.
5. Total land required for the project is 2,833 acres out of which 1,872 acres is private land.
6. Farmers whose land has been acquired will get a compensation at the rate of Rs. 21 lakh per acre.
7. Bihar will get 70% of the power generated by this power plant.

I think its a good step toward improving the electricity situation in Bihar and attracting more industries. I hope that the power plant doesn't face any delays and hickups that we are used to seeing in such large projects. We should also look at kick starting more power projects that can be completed faster so that Bihar can quickly fulfill the shortfall of electricity that it currently faces.

This Power project was first approved in early 2010 and the central government had also approved coal linkages in March 2010 (Coal linkage for two 660Mega Watts plants). However it has taken almost 2 years after clearing the coal linkages to move ahead on this project. The main hurdles on the way was getting a central government approval to use the water from Ganga for the power plant and the second hurdle was land acquisition.

Overall a good step in the right direction. More details about the Thermal power plant can be found in the Times of India article - Bihar big leap towards ‘power’

Coal linkage for two 660Mega Watts plants

The central government has approved coal linkages for 2 thermal power plants each with a capacity of 660 Mega Watts for Bihar (at Nabinagar). This has been a long outstanding demand of Bihar as even though many thermal power plants have been approved in Bihar, in the absence of coal availability, these plants could not be set. Thus this would be a good first step for fulfilling Bihar's power needs.

However the central government has not approved coal linkages or usage of Ganga waters for other power projects in Bihar. In comparison it has approved 4 such plants in already developed and advanced Maharashtra... While I try to be rationale, I am forced to think: Does this have to do with the power politics in the center :?: The Central government is of Congress while State government in Bihar is JD(U) and BJP... A point worth mulling over as the power generation is a must in the growth of Bihar.

More details can be read in the article Jaiswal approves fuel linkages to power units in Bihar, UP