Bihar Affairs
Rajgir, Bodh Gaya set to be green energy towns
Rajgir and Bodh Gaya, important tourist hubs, are set to become the country s first fully green energy efficient towns, as Bihar vies with Delhi, Goa and Odisha to supply 24×7 clean power round the year through the first of its kind hybrid model.
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a central government Psu, which will develop the system in Andhra Pradesh, has agreed in principle to Bihars proposal to feed clean power to the two towns and some important government installations in Patna, including the Raj Bhawan, chief ministers house, Legislative Assembly, MLA quarters, Patna High Court, Gyan Bhawan, Bihar museum and the Vidyut Bhawan.
The state pays an annualised Average power purchase at the cost of 4.90 to 4.96 per unit, with thermal power contributing to 78% of the states power share.
The Centre has also waived off the 1 per unit interstate transmission charges to encourage renewal energy projects commissioned by June 2023. It will also bear the transmission and distribution loss, which is generally up to 2%, in ferrying power from the south Indian state.
The SECI had floated the tender last year, inviting stakeholders to avail of green power round the clock through renewable energy. Bihar showed interest in February, this year.
What is delaying the SECI nod, said officials, was Bihars insistence on customised power supply 160 MW solar and 39.93 MW hydel as against the SECI formula to give 37.5 MW through hydel pump storage plant in a 200 MW renewable energy hybrid package.