Power Ministers, bureaucrats and technocrats from different States and Union Territories will converge to hold brain storming sessions in Rajgir on Friday and Saturday. The Union Minister of State for Power & Renewable Energy and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will address the inaugural address at the International Convention Centre.
This is the first time that Bihar is hosting such a conference for which Bihar Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav had extended invitation at the last meeting in Delhi last May. Bihar has made tremendous progress in this sector during the past few years and its efforts have been appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly.
Minister Yadav and Principal Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Tuesday informed that on the first day of the two-day conference works in Bihar in power sector would be projected and thoroughly discussed. Nitish would also inaugurate, lay foundation stone and unveil various energy schemes worth Rs 8,823 crore. They include 400 KV grid sub stations at Bakhtiarpur, Naubatpur and Jakkanpur, 220 KV grids at Raxual, Korha, Karmnasha and Dumraon and others. The foundation for grid sub stations of 400 KV at Sitamarhi, Saharsa and Chandauti would be laid which are being commissioned by the Power Grid Company.
Yadav suggested that Centre should formulate a policy for installation of roof top solar energy equipments at primary, middle and high schools apart from the panchayat buildings. Amrit said that 11 State Ministers would be taken to Adhaura in Kaimur and Bhikna Thodi in West Champaran by helicopters and be showed how power has reached the hillocks and the riverine areas for the first time.
Apart from the Ministers, 34 secretaries and principal secretaries, 14 senior officials and 60 technocrats would also take part in the two day conference. The purpose of the conference which is held twice a year, said Amrit, is to review and ongoing schemes of the power, new and renewable energy and discuss about the new technology. At the concluding session the ideas and suggestions of the States would be incorporated in the resolutions.
The Ministers and the officials would deliberate on subjects like Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna (Saubhagya) which targets to electrify each household by December 2018, strategy for 24X7 power for all, completion of feeder separation, system strengthening projects, expediting works in urban areas and reduction of electric losses to 10 per cent, anti theft campaigns, digital payment, prepaid and smart meters, classification of tariff besides generation, supply, transmission and distribution issues. Solar roof top, wind power and solar programme are other issues related to renewable energy sources.