Power situation improved in Bihar, says Nitish

Despite Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal's assertion that Bihar's power production is 'zero', Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the power scenario in the state has increased manifold.
Launching projects valued at Rs 5,541 crore to improve transmission, distribution and equipments related to power supply, Kumar reminded the people that he had said in 2012 that he will not seek votes in 2015 Assembly polls if he was unable to improve power scenario in the state.
"We have worked every second for this and it has improved. Today we supply around 3,000 MW to our people in comparison to 700 MW earlier. Our capability to supply power has gone up to 4,500 MW," he said.

"We now aim at providing electricity to each and every habitation in the state by 2016 end. We will do everything necessary for last mile connectivity," the chief minister of the poll-bound state said.
Goyal today said plants owned by Bihar government does not produce a single MW or unit of electricity and the entire power supply to Bihar is being met by the Centre.
Kumar's programme was held almost simultaneously as that of Goyal and he was not aware of the union minister's charge.

However, he alleged lack of support from the Centre in power sector saying how the deadline of renovation of units at Barauni Thermal Power Plant has been changed 14 times by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

"We have also gone for case-2 bidding for thermal power plants at Chausa (Buxar), Kajra (Lakhisarai) and Pirpainti (Bhagalpur) where state government acquires land, arranges water and other facilities so that investors come to set up the plants and sell power on official rates," he said.
Kumar added that construction work on the thermal power plant at Nabinagar in Aurangabad district was under progress. It is a joint venture between the state and NTPC.
The state government claimed improvement in power scenario in Bihar through full page advertisements in newspapers today.