Patna: Bihars own power generation will reach up to 1990 MW by the end of 2018-19 from the current 720 MW of power generation, Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said in the Assembly.
Yadav also announced that two units of 250 MW each of Barauni Thermal Power Station will start commercial generation from next month.
“When we assumed power (in the year 2005), Bihars own power generation was nil but now its own generation, at present, is 720 MW which is expected to increase up to 1990 MW by the end of 2018-19,” Yadav said in the Assembly.
He was speaking during a debate on his departments budgetary allocation of Rs 10257.65 crore for 2018-19 which was subsequently passed amid walk out by RJD members demanding arrest of two union ministers– Giriraj Singh, Ashwini Kumar Choubey — for allegedly sparking communal tension.
Power generation of 1980 MW is expected to start from Stage I of Nabinagar Power Generating Company Pvt Ltd (NPGCL)- a 50:50 joint venture of the NTPC and Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd – in 2018-19, the minister said.
Of the 1980 MW, the state is expected to get 1552.50 MW as its share from the plant.
As per a pact between Bihar and Bhutan governments, the state is soon expected to get 218 MW, the first installment of 900 MW power from Bhutan, he said adding that the state is expected to get the remaining power by February 2022.
The state is also purchasing 128 MW of solar energy from various solar power developers apart from 10 MW of solar power being purchased from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), he said.
Due to various measures taken by the two distribution companies, North and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, the AT&C loss has reduced to 36.75 per cent by the end of third quarter of current fiscal from 46.33 per cent in 2013-14, Yadav said.
Similarly, distribution companies billing efficiency has also increased, he said adding that billing efficiency has increased to 73.33 per cent by the end of third quarter of current fiscal from 55.76 per cent in 2013-14.
Stating that distribution companies have been able to make monthly revenue collection of Rs 620 crore in the current fiscal, he said companies revenue collection has gone up to Rs 6688.86 crore by the end of February which is further expected to touch Rs 7500 crore by the end of this month.
Source: PTI
