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Title: Need for approval of setting up of the Super Thermal Power Project at Aurangabad in Bihar.
SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR : Sir, thank you for giving me this chance. I rise to invite the attention of the Central Government, the Union Power Minister and the Chairperson of the UPA to an important power project that will gravely affect the power situation in Bihar. The 2200 MW project is to be located at Nabinagar in my constituency Aurangabad in Bihar. I thank you sir for giving me a chance to speak on the subject of this project which has been pending for seventeen years. It is a project that was conceptualised way back in 1989. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You are becoming an absolute pain in the neck.
SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR : But there was no progress of that project till 1999. It was only in 1999 that efforts to get it moving began. Its feasibility studies were completed, including consultation with the Planning Commission. That was the time when Power Purchase Agreements should have been finalised. Since normally, these power projects are constructed by the National Thermal Power Corporation it should have negotiated and finalised the Agreements.. But in an unprecedented move, the Railway Ministry offered to construct it by setting up a Railway Power Construction Corporation with 51 per cent equity in it. This was unheard of and it created a wrangle between the Power and the Railway Ministries. However, the matter was somehow sorted out and it was hoped that when this project came into being, it would solve the power problems of Bihar because it was to be a 2200 MW power project. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You should very briefly mention it. Long speeches are being made. How dare you carry it? We have to change the entire functioning. Please conclude.
SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR: The Thirteenth Lok Sabha got dissolved. After the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, a foundation stone was laid a fortnight later[m15] .
This foundation stone was laid without the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
MR. SPEAKER : All State matters are being raised here.
SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR : Sir, it is a mandatory requirement. The CCEA approval is mandatory. This was not taken. Till date this approval is pending with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs even though the Ministry of Finance has given its okay to this project. This is a very important project not only for Bihar but for the entire Eastern India and, perhaps, for the whole country. It is going to be a 2,200 megawatt project. My appeal and a very earnest appeal, to the Union Government, to the hon. Minister of Power and to the Chairperson of the UPA is to kindly see that the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is taken without further delay and the project is taken up for construction.
MR. SPEAKER : This is the time for matters of urgent importance. Urgency has no meaning in our dictionary.
… (Interruptions)