Bihar energy secretary Pratyaya Amrit (extreme left) and other delegates at the conference of power ministers of states and Union Territories in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

New Delhi, Sept. 9: The state today nudged the Centre to expedite pending power projects in Bihar, saying that delay in coal allocations was compounding people’s energy woes.

While chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who holds the energy portfolio, chose to skip the national-level meet of power ministers in the capital today, energy secretary Pratyay Amrit, who tabled the Manjhi’s letter in the conference, represented the state.

The state pointed out that Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which is executing the upcoming 2x250MW Barauni thermal power station (BTPS) expansion project and Muzaffarpur thermal power station at Rs 1,053 crore has been dilly-dallying the projects.

“The issue of deficiency by BHEL in this work had been raised in the previous conference of power ministers. But no significant progress has been observed in the renovation and modernisation works of BTPS so far. BHEL is extending the synchronisation schedule frequently. The committed date, April 15, 2014, by BHEL for synchronisation of unit number 7 of BTPS is also likely to be extended again. I would request you to direct BHEL to commission these units soon,” wrote Manjhi in his letter addressed to Union power minister of state, Piyush Goyal.

Ruing that the coal allocations for the Nabinagar Stage II (3x660MW), being developed in joint venture by Bihar and the National Thermal Power Corporation, has not been made yet, Bihar demanded that coal allocation for the project be made on an urgent basis.

Bihar also lamented how Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) had proposed the setting up a 4x700MW nuclear power plant at Rajauli but the project had been lying in limbo because the proposal of water supply from Ganga was found techno-economically infeasible.

“Barh NTPC is a very prestigious power project not only for Bihar but for the whole country, which has reached its last stage of construction. The power generated here is planned to outreach corners of the country. But the issue of extension of rail network for coal transportation to project site is pending with the Centre, which needs to be resolved,” Manjhi wrote.

In the letter, he has also brought about the issue of the Punatsangchu & Mangdechu hydel project of Bhutan, which is expected to be completed by 2016-17.

“The proposed 400KV Kishanganj-Patna transmission can easily evacuate power to Bihar from the abovesaid Bhutan hydel project. Therefore, at least 1,500MW power should be allocated to Bihar from the Bhutan project,” wrote Manjhi.