Patna, Oct. 26: Modernisation of the power sector has started showing results with the state drawing more than 2,000MW consistently.
Even till a couple of years ago, it was simply unimaginable in Bihar but the state government’s sustained efforts to improve the power situation in the past eight years have started paying dividends.
The state, which has at best been drawing around 1,500-1,600MW, drew over 2,000MW of power per day in the past week. The state recorded the maximum power withdrawal on Wednesday (October 23) when Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd received 2,240MW.
Of 2,000MW, the state has been drawing around 1,300-1,400MW against its allocation of 1,985MW from the central sector besides purchasing 600-700MW from the open market, including 200MW from Adani Power, a power company official said.
It is the first time that the state has been steadily drawing more than 2,000MW of power.
“Things have improved significantly on the power front in the past few years. We have been drawing more than 2,000MW. This has been possible thanks to large-scale strengthening and modernisation work of transmission and distribution network under various schemes,” power (holding) company deputy general manager (PR) H.R. Pandey said.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar, in his independence speech last year, had said the state used to draw just 800MW of power when he took over the reins for the first time in November 2005.
“Now the power company’s capacity has been increased to supply 3,000MW of power but at present 2,000MW of power is supplied,” Nitish said at a book release ceremony last Wednesday. The capacity would be further enhanced to 4,000MW next year, the chief minister further said.
The strengthening of transmission and distribution network include installation of grid sub-station, power sub-stations, laying of new transmission lines, capacity augmentation of power transformers, replacing old and dilapidated wires, setting up of transformer repair workshop to repair distribution transformer among others.
The steps are taken under various schemes, including Backward Region Grant Fund and Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme.
