Patna, Jan. 12: Energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav is set to raise the issues plaguing the power sector in the state at a meeting with Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on January 25.

Yadav, who has been invited by the Centre to discuss power-related problems in Bihar, would leave for Delhi on January 24.

Shinde has said the Centre is sympathetic towards the state and is ready to extend assistance to improve the power situation. Bijendra would be accompanied by department’s principal secretary Ajay V. Naik and Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) chairman P.K. Rai to the meeting.

About the priority issues he would raise with the Union power minister, Bijendra said, allocation of 50 per cent power from new and upcoming central power units, coal linkages for some of the state’s power projects, investment in the transmission lines and change in Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana would top his agenda.

“We will demand allocation of 50 per cent power from central generating units, especially from National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) upcoming Barh super thermal power station,” Yadav told The Telegraph.

The state has repeatedly made demands to the Centre to allocate 50 per cent power as home state share from upcoming power projects of the NTPC in Bihar. The central government brought an amendment last year to allow 50 per cent power allocation to states in NTPC’s new plants. However, no final decision has been taken yet on power-sharing formula for upcoming projects in Bihar. The state wants the Centre to ensure that 50 per cent of the power generated at the Barh plant (3,300MW) would be allocated to it.

The state government would also raise the issue of coal linkages with the Centre to fulfil its dream of being self-reliant in the power sector. “Non-allocation of coal linkages has delayed the start of projects at Chausa (Buxar), Kajra (Lakhisarai) and Pirpainty (Bhagalpur), which would generate around 4,000MW power. Besides this, we are also planning to expand the Barauni thermal plant and set up another plant with a capacity to generate 750MW on its premises. We will request the Union power minister to grant the coal linkages for these projects,” Yadav said.

The issue of investment in strengthening and laying new transmission lines and grids in the state would also be raised, the minister said adding that “Centre has constantly ignored Bihar on this account”. “Even Odisha, having less population than Bihar, possess more transmission lines,” he said. Besides this, the issue of renovation and modernisation of Kanti and Barauni thermal power plants too would be discussed.

“We will also discuss the issue of supplying power to Nepal and essential services from the state’s quota. Shortcomings in the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana would also be raised during the meeting. Under the scheme, low-capacity (16 and 25KV) transformers are installed, leading to burning of transformers,” the minister said.