Bihar has to depend on non-conventional energy sources -CM said

   
PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar said the energy requirements can be fulfilled only with the renewable energy through generation of more biomass, husk power and solar plates. Holding a high-level meeting on possibilities of power generation through non-conventional sources of energy here on Thursday, he said there are vast opportunities in non-conventional sources.
Energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, cooperative minister Ramadhar Singh, animal husbandry and fisheries development minister Giriraj Singh, chief secretary Navin Kumar, development commissioner A K Sinha, principal secretary, industries, Alok Kumar, principal secretary, animal husbandry, Sudhir Kumar, principal secretary, revenue and land reforms, C Ashok Vardhan, secretary cooperative, Rajit Punhani, chairman of Bihar State Electricity Board, P K Rai, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Nitish said the energy needs could not be fulfilled only through conventional sources like thermal power stations due to shortage of coal and non-development of new coal mines. "Despite our repeated requests, we failed to get coal linkage for Barauni plant and other thermal plants are not getting adequate supply of coal as well. Under the circumstances, it is urgent to develop non-conventional sources of energy," the CM said.
He also stressed the need to bring down the cost of non-conventional sources of energy since its establishment cost was high. What is important is to make an integrated model to ensure energy supply to villages for irrigation and lighting purposes. He also stressed on popularizing the concept of solar energy.
The cooperative department made a power-point presentation on gasifier and husk power. It said the state has huge production of rice husk and, during 2011-12, 115.50 lakh MT husk was produced. In Vaishali, through primary agriculture credit society (PACS), husk power is being supplied to 800 houses and a cold storage of 4000 MT capacity is working on this power. Similarly, Kundalpur PACS at Bettiah in West Champaran is providing husk power to three villages. Cooperative minister said there was a plan to develop rice mills and gasifier of 65 kVA through 350 PACS by 2017.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of solar power generation in 9 lakh hectares which remain waterlogged and where fishery can be developed. The CM referred to Shahzadpur village in Samastipur district where, on a 100 acre water body, 20MW power is generated, apart from fishing. If similar schemes are framed for one lakh hectare of water bodies, 50,000MW of power could be generated.
In future, the CM said, Bihar has to depend on non-conventional energy sources and directed the officials to make a policy decision on generation of solar power on water bodies and fish tanks. He directed the industry department to study the proposals for non-conventional energy units and asked the development commissioner to monitor them and send a concrete proposal to the government. He also directed the energy department to make a micro-level planning for streamlining the working of the BSEB.