Patna, Feb. 1: Dagmara hydel power project, considered one of the most ambitious ventures of the state government to tide over the energy crisis, is on a new track towards inception.

Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation (BHPC) has submitted a fresh detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed dam to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for its approval.

The power project, which would be constructed between Bhaptiahi and Dudhaula villages over the Kosi river in Supaul district, would require about 100 acres of land.

“We have submitted the DPR to the CEA for its clearance. We hope to get the nod within two-to-three months, following which construction would begin,” BHPC managing director A.K. Pandey told The Telegraph.

The cost of the project has been estimated between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,300 crore. The generation capacity of the dam has been enhanced to 130MW from the earlier 125MW following the preparation of the new DPR.

Pandey said: “The generation capacity has been enhanced to 130MW following a survey conducted for preparing the fresh DPR.”

Sources said a part of the project, which was supposed to be submerged after the construction of the dam, was falling in Nepal’s territory. “This could have created some unnecessary problems. Keeping this in mind, it was decided to relocate the dam to Indian territory, which is why a fresh DPR was prepared and submitted to CEA,” a source said.

The new DPR proposes to set up the plant 10km downstream, the source added.

The corporation has to start the work for Dagmara project from scratch. This is the second time that a DPR is being prepared. The first DPR was in the process of getting the clearance. But it got stuck because a part of the project would have been submerged in Nepal.

The first DPR was prepared by a government consultancy firm, Water and Power Consultancy Service, under the guidance of an Asian Development Bank team at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The project cost was then estimated at Rs 1,000 crore.

According to the earlier plan, the project was supposed to irrigate additional five lakh hectares of land. But now it would solely be a hydel plant, as incorporating other facilities such as irrigation would involve other departments and subsequently delay the project further.

On the funding of the project, a BHPC official said: “Funds would not be a problem, as many national and international agencies, such as Japanese Investment Corporation Agency and Asian Development Bank, are interested in the project.”

Nod to new plants

The state cabinet today gave its nod to the construction of two hydro-electric power plants in Aurangabad district. The two plants, with an installed capacity of 1MW each, would be constructed at Dehra and Sipaha at an estimated cost of Rs 14.21 crore and Rs 13.02 crore respectively, cabinet co-ordination department principal secretary Ravikant said.