Patna, March 13: The nuclear power plant project, which was expected to come up with a solution to the power problem in the state, has been shelved because of lack of availability of water in Phulwaria reservoir.

The state government — which besides thermal and hydel-power plants was eager to set up a nuclear plant to strengthen its power scenario — has given a quiet burial to the nuclear power plant at Nawada’s Rajauli because of non-availability of appropriate amount of water in near future.

However, work is on to install alternative power plants based on coal and gas at the same place, a top official of Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) told The Telegraph.

Experts from the Centre and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a public sector enterprise under the administrative control of the department of energy, had approved the site at Rajauli in Nawada for setting up the 1,400 MW nuclear power plant after visiting the place in 2007.

The project did not materialise because of lack of availability of water in Phulwaria reservoir for the proposed power plant.

Official source said for setting up of 1,400MW nuclear power plant there must be a continuous availability of water.

At least 160 cusecs of water per day must be available but unfortunately given the present status it is impossible even to think of having such a nuclear power plant.

The Phulwaria reservoir did not have enough water, as it was solely dependent on rainwater because no river flows near the area.

The official said the NPCIL was also not interested in the project because of lack of available water.

NPCIL officials during their discussions with the board officials in December last year had sought data of past 10 years about the availability of water in Phulwaria reservoir, the source said.

The board had already informed the NPCIL’s requirement to the state’s water resources department in December last year, added the source.

Though the water resources department has not furnished details sought by NPCIL officials, the purpose will not be served even if the department provides the data as it will give the same figure of non-availability of proportionate amount of water, the source said.

The board has now decided to set up thermal and gas-based power plants at the same site in Rajauli.

The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) has given its permission to Era Infra Limited to set up a 2,640MW (4x660MW) coal-based power project and Sharvanti Infra Limited has shown interest for setting up of a 450MW gas-based power plant for which it has applied to the SIPB, sources said.

The total power generation from nuclear energy, at present, stood at 4,560MW in the country.

The source added the Centre’s goal is to enhance nuclear power generation up to 20,000MW by 2020 unfortunately, Bihar will not have a single nuclear power project as things stand now.