Bihar

• 17 Dec 2021

Inauguration of Various Schemes of Energy Sector

Why in news

On December 15, 2021, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated various schemes of the energy sector worth Rs 3452.11 crore at the Energy Auditorium located in BSPHCL Colony. Simultaneously, the Chief Minister started the statewide implementation of smart pre-paid meter scheme costing Rs.12,657 crore.

Key Points

• Schemes worth Rs 725.26 crore were inaugurated by the Chief Minister, while foundation stones of various schemes worth Rs 2726.85 crore were laid.
  
  • Under the distribution companies, 48 Vidyut Shakti sub-stations costing a total cost of Rs 325 crore have been inaugurated and laid.
  • The foundation stone for the construction of transmission line from 7 grid sub-station to distribution system at a cost of Rs 874 crore and transmission line for power evacuation from Buxar Thermal Power Establishment at a cost of Rs 817.35 crore was laid.
• The Chief Minister said that a 200 MW solar power plant is going to be set up in Bihar. Work on 100 MW solar power plants will be started at Jamui and Banka. These plants will be set up by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited. An amount of Rs 1000 crore will be spent on this.
• Bihar is the first state in the country where smart prepaid meters are being installed. Smart prepaid meters are being installed in Bihar from 2019. The Electricity Department has set a target to install smart prepaid meters in every household by March 2025 in five phases.
• The Chief Minister said that the electricity bill has been included in the Right to Redressal of Public Grievances Act so that the grievances of the people can be resolved.
• There will be no misuse of electricity with smart prepaid meters. Electricity consumers will also benefit from this. The more electricity people consume, the more they will have to pay the electricity bill.