The power sector is set to receive a boost with the Centre clearing the proposal for setting up two 250MW plants at Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station.

Earlier, the civil aviation ministry had objected to the setting up of the units citing concerns about the height of the plants’ chimneys, saying it could have posed a threat to the airport at Muzaffarpur. The airport, 6-7km away from the power station, however, is non-operational.

Apart from the two plants, work on two 195MW units is on in full swing at Kanti.

“The major hurdle for constructing any big thermal power plant at Muzaffarpur was the civil aviation ministry’s objection towards raising the height of the units’ chimney. The ministry has now paved the way for construction of two 250MW plants,” energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said.

The two units would be set up by Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Ltd (KBUNL) — a joint venture between NTPC and Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd. NTPC and the power firm have equity holdings of 64.57 and 35.43 per cent, respectively.

According to sources, a team of the Central Electricity Authority recently conducted an inspection around four to five days back. Sources added that there would not be any problem in setting up additional plants owing to sufficient land at Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station. NTPC has coal linkage from Eastern Coalfields Limited and gets water from the Burhi Gandak.

On whether the power company had got permission from the central government to set up the third and fourth units at Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station, Yadav said KBUNL would get the approval after fulfilling formalities.