Patna, July 13: Bihar energy minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav today made vociferous demand to the Centre to grant coal linkages to help power-starved Bihar in setting up power projects both for expansion and new plants.

“I would like to point out the problem Bihar has been facing on account of non-allocation of coal linkages. Our biggest problem is non-allocation of coal linkages in the absence of which many power projects’ work has been stopped or could not take off,” Yadav said during a conference of energy ministers in New Delhi.

“The expansion plan under which 2x250MW of power plant at Barauni, the state’s only thermal power plant, is being held up because of non-allocation of coal linkage,” Yadav said, adding that all the formalities have been completed with regard to the project such as land, water clearance, contract has been awarded to BHEL but the environment clearance will be given only when there is a coal linkage.

“Hence, I would request the Union power minister to grant coal linkage without any further delay,” Yadav said.

Similarly, the work on thermal plants at Kajra in Lakhisarai (1,320MW) and Pirpainty in Bhagalpur (1,320MW), which would be initiated under case-II bidding, could not be started in the absence of linkage, the minister said, adding that though the central government has recommended linkage for Chausa in Buxar (1,320 MW).

The state electricity board signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KRIBHCO in January to set up 1,320MW at Chausa under case-II bidding.

Under such a bidding, the government would get all clearances such as water, forest, land acquisition, coal linkage and then invite tenders from the interested parties.

Explaining the severity of the state’s dependence on central sector allocation, Yadav said the state usually gets around 950MW of power from the central sector against the scheduled allocation of 1,772MW.

The availability went down to 500-600MW from the central sector during peak demand in summers.

Yadav requested the Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to increase the state’s allocation by another 500MW to tide over the recurrent power crisis.

Stating that even private companies have shown interest in setting up power plants in the state, the minister said: “The state government expects a positive approach from the Centre for granting coal linkages besides giving water and environment clearances.”