Project Monitor reported that Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited might implement the 126 MW Dagmara hydropower project on its own instead of the public private partnership route.

Government consultancy Water & Power Consultants Limited is currently preparing the detailed project report for the 3x42 MW Dagmara projects that will take shape in Piprahi village of Supaul district. The DPR is expected to be ready by November end and a final decision on the implementation mode will be taken thereafter.

Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited officials said that the Kosi River basin had an untapped hydropower potential of 223 MW spread over 18 sites of which the Dagmara project is the largest. In early 2007 the ministry of new and renewable energy provided a subsidy to BSHPCL to undertake feasibility studies on 10 of these 18 projects spread over the Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Arariya districts. While consultancy work on these 10 projects out of which the 12 MW Arar Ghat is the largest is under way, some smaller projects might be commissioned within the 11th Plan period.

Official said that the state government agency has also initiated steps to develop the 450 MW Indrapuri hydropower project on build own operate transfer basis. RfQ documents are being issued up to October 25 with a pre bid conference scheduled for November 10th 2008.

As per report, the Indrapuri project will spread over Rohtas district of Bihar and Garhwa district of Jharkhand. Harnessing the Sone River, the multipurpose project aims at hydropower generation, irrigation and flood control. Estimated to generate over 750 GWH of power annually the project will be developed on BOOT basis under a 30 year concession period.