The Hindu : Rabri lays foundation for massive power projects

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

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Rabri lays foundation for massive power projects

By Our Staff Correspondent

HAJIPUR, JAN. 17. The Bihar Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, laid the foundation here on Friday for power projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,162 crores, which have the potential to transform the power scenario in north Bihar.

She launched the construction of transmission and sub-transmission lines and the Mahatma Gandhi Setu Cable Crossing scheme at a function at which the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, was the chief guest. The function was presided over by the Bihar Power Minister, Shakeel Ahmed Khan.

These projects of the Bihar State Electricity Board are being executed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, which hopes to complete them in 18 months. The 200-250 MW project is likely to benefit 16 districts. The laying of cables to carry 132 KV power from Patna to Hajipur along the bridge across the Ganga is expected to cost Rs. 40 crores. This will provide about 80 MW of power to Vaishali, Chapra, Siwan and Gopalganj districts. The Power Grid Corporation has bagged the contract under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme and Distribution to strengthen the system in 11 circles covering 27 districts at an estimated cost of Rs. 757 crores.

It has also been given the work of rural electrification under which it would cover 2,378 villages of Vaishali and Muzaffarpur at an estimated cost of Rs. 120 crores. Ms. Rabri Devi said that all villages would be electrified by the year 2007 and all houses by the end of the decade. Mr. Laloo Yadav criticised the Centre for ``not sanctioning'' an economic package and ``not doing much for Bihar'' on the power front. Unless it ensured a proper power supply, Bihar would not transmit its surplus in the eastern region to other grids.

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