A primary database of the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB)-approved units, which are yet to start business in the state, is being created to identify their present status.

The industries department has identified the contact details, including e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers, of around 200 proposals in the fields of power, food processing, education (setting up of medical and engineering colleges), sugar among others. In some cases, the department has also come up with a status report explaining the latest work having been done until now.

“We have started with the status of proposed power plant projects,” said an officer of the industries department, hinting at the chief minister’s wish for turning Bihar into a power-surplus state by 2015.

The approval to set up a 5MW solar power plant by Reliance Industries Limited was approved by the SIPB in 2008.

“According to the current status report, a letter has been sent to Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA) asking them to take necessary steps regarding the project. A Ranchi-based industry’s proposal to set up a 2MW solar power plant in Aurangabad district at Rs 26.74 crore was approved by the SIPB in 2009. Its status shows the project awaits power ministry’s nod. Another example is regarding a Calcutta-based industry whose project to set up a Rs 116-crore 5MW solar power plant in Munger district was approved in 2009. The current status shows its feasibility report is being studied,” the official added.

In another case, it was found the proposal approved by the SIPB in 2010 for a Rs 253-crore 15MW solar power plant by a Hyderabad-based firm in Bettiah has not been cleared at the ministry level.

“Though a lot needs to be done, things have started for sure to set up the database. There are several forms of industries — establishment of power plants based on biomass, thermal power plants based on coal, plants based on gas and alternative fuel and plants based on solar power. Through the information provided by investors who showed interest in contacting the department and with the help of our resources, the work on creating the database is going on,” another official at the department said.