New Delhi, Apr 07 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today demanded the centre to allocate more power to the state which is facing a major energy crisis.

Mr Kumar met Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and demanded that the state should get its full quota of 1100 MW electricity along with an additional 200 MW power due to the crisis. At present, the state, facing a drought like condition, was only getting 700 MW power, he said.

Pointing out that after bifurcation of the state, Bihar was left with not many power generating units, resulting in its over dependence on the Centre especially NTPC. However, NTPC had recently reduced the state power allocation resulting in energy crisis due to which state was not being able to supply even municipal water in many towns.

Mr Kumar said the state government had cleared all the bills of NTPC and urged it not to reduce power supply in future on this account.

He also urged the Centre to reopen the Kanti thermal power plant in Muzaffarpur and also increase the production at Barauni power plant.

The Chief Minister said the state had already made a plan for power reform which include dividing the Electricity Board into four parts and urged the Centre's assistance in implementing these reforms.

UNI AJ PK RS1927