PTI reported that the INR 60,000 crore 12,500 MW power projects cleared by the State Investment Planning Board, which could change the face of Bihar if commissioned, has not taken off as coal linkage has not been granted by the Centre and because of land acquisition problems.
Mr CK Mishra principal secretary said "We have written to the centre for providing coal linkages for 14 projects. We are worried at their progress. The CM has also written to the PM drawing his attention to the problem."
Mr Mishra said the progress on land acquisition of some of the proposed power projects has satisfactory but some were progressing at a snail's pace.
He said the center has also failed to adhere to its commitment to supply coal to Bihar's existing power plants leading to closure of the Barauni Thermal Power Station.
He said that "We have been getting supply from the Mugma colliery for BTPS, which generates 70 MW to 80 MW daily, but for 1 month there has been shortage of coal due to which production has stopped in the last ten days. The unit was getting a rake or 2 sometimes which was not sufficient to continue production. We have written to the Government of India on the coal crisis for the existing units as it has affected production."
Official sources said the shortage of coal to BTPS was largely due to the ongoing strike at the colliery for which it was getting half of 35,000 tonne of regular supply.
JAS Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd which has signed an MoU with Bihar government for setting up a four units of 660 MW at Banka for which the coal ministry has allotted a block at Mahuagarhi has made some progress identifying 1850 acre for acquisition.
Nalanda Power Company, Kolkata which intends to set up a 2000 MW plant at Pirpainty in Bhagalpur has also identified 600 acre for acquisition and has also applied for a coal block.
Similarly, Cement Manufacturing Company, Kolkata has so far identified 600 acre for its 500 MW project and has also applied for a coal block.
(Sourced from Press Trust of India)
