Bihar on Wednesday urged a national tariff policy while raising the point how the NTPC charges different rates for power in different parts of the country.
"Different rates are being charged by NTPC for power in different parts of the country. This regional disparity should be done away with by bringing a national tariff policy for NTPC," energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said at a conference of power ministers in New Delhi. "It will also help the survival of upcoming new power generating units."
Piyush Goyal, minister of state (independent charge) for power, coal, new and renewable energy and mines, inaugurated the two-day conference.
Bijendra pointed out that Bihar was getting just around 2,100-2,200MW out of central allocation of 2,942MW and requested for additional cheaper power from the central sector generating units of other regions to meet its energy needs.
The demand is continuously increasing and is expected to exceed 4,500 MW. Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited has proposed various transmission facilities of 132KV to 400KV at Saharsa, Sitamarhi, Gaya, Ara and Munger in the central sector. The minister asked to expedite work on the proposals.
At the conference, Goyal said 4,141 villages are left to be electrified in the country and it will be done by 2018.
Among the other requests put forth by Bijendra were: swap coal linkage for 2x110MW Barauni Thermal Power Station from Eastern Coalfields Limited to Central Coalfields Limited; ensure coal block "allotted in principle" for 4,000MW Ultra Mega Power Project at Kakwara in Banka district is formally allocated; allocation of 50 per cent power from stage II of 3x500MW at Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Station.
He also said construction of 3x660MW units at Nabinagar in Aurangabad was in the advanced stage and the three units were likely to be commissioned in September 2017, March 2018 and September 2018, respectively. "We have requested conversion of Nabinagar stage II from 3x660MW to 3x800MW. The central government should direct NTPC to expedite the submission of feasibility report on the proposal," Bijendra said.
