Work for setting up the much awaited super thermal power station at Nabinagar, which will have three units of 660mw each in the first stage, will finally start after a gap of over one year.

Bihar chief minister Mr Nitish Kumar will lay the foundation stone of the project at Shivanpur village in Aurangabad district on Saturday.

This power plant, being established by Nabinagar Power Generating Company Private Limited could not make a smooth start due to land acquisition issues, especially those related to gair mazarua khas land. Soon after the 'bhumi pujan (ground breaking)' ceremony on January 14 last year, local farmers had protested over construction work.

Again after four months, 'bhumi pujan' ceremony was held at the construction site following an amicable settlement with aggrieved farmers after announcement of the new GMK policy by the government.

NTPC & BSEB had entered into a memorandum of agreement on October 14th 2007 to promote a joint venture company to establish the power project. Consequently, NPGC, a JV company, was incorporated on September 9, 2008 with NTPC and BSEB holding 50% equity each.

NPGC is in the process of developing the power project near village Majhiyan and Ankorha railway station in Aurangabad district. Once completed, Bihar will get 70% share in power generated by it, while the balance will go to other states of the eastern region.

The project is envisaged to be commissioned during 12{+t}{+h} Plan period. Its first unit is targeted to be commissioned in FY 2015-16 and the other two units at an interval of six months each thereafter.

About 2832 acres of mostly mono crop agricultural land has been acquired in eight villages each of Nabinagar block and Barun block in Aurangabad district. The project will source coal from North Karanpura coalfields of Central Coalfields Limited. The Union ministry of coal has given its consent for coal linkage.

(Sourced from TOI)