Bihar suffers power crisis, NTPC fears unit closure

The NTPC, Kahalgaon, has pointed out that due to suspension of the existing Bhagalpur-Kahalgaon rail link, supply of coal has been badly hit and if this situation continues, it will suspend generation of power in one of its units. The power major has written letters to Eastern Railways and Eastern Coalfields Limited in this regard.

Bihar8217;s Energy Minister Bijeyndra Prasad Yadav has sent a strongly-worded letter to his counterpart at the Centre, Sushil Kumar Shinde, and alleged discrimination against non-UPA ruled states in allocation of power. In his letter, he has underlined that the Centre has allotted additional 40 MW of power to Jharkhand, ignoring Bihar8217;s claim.

Bihar is entirely dependent on the Centre for power, as generation within the state is nil. CM Nitish Kumar has met PM Manmohan Singh twice for an allocation of an additional 300 MW of power. He had stressed that the state was being denied its due share. 8220;Disregarding this plea, the Centre has allocated an additional 40 MW to Jharkhand which has an installed capacity of 1300 MW. This is a clear case of discrimination,8221; remarked the Energy Minister.

Further, Bihar has to provide 100 MW of power per day to Nepal and the Railways. 8220;In such a scenario, how can we provide power to Nepal under the international treaty,8221; he has pointed out in the letter.