Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurates power schemes worth Rs 4855.37 cr

Faced with complaints from consumers regarding irregularities in electricity bills, Bihar government has started installing pre-paid meters in every household, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday.

He said pre-paid meters would be beneficial t only for consumers but would also reduce losses incurred by two power distribution companies- rth Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd.

chief minister was speaking after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of various power schemes worth Rs 4855.37 crore.

Kumar said during statewide visit in 2016 he found that re were large number of complaints with regard to irregularities in electricity bills.

re was only one solution to this problem and that was installing pre-paid meters, he said, claiming even central government has adopted its schemes of giving power connection to every household with pre-paid meters.

Taking a veiled dig at his RJD rivals, he said "re was a time when people used lantern and diyas (earn oil lamp) to light ir house but re is requirement of such things in state w because of uninterrupted power supply.

"People did t face any difficulties even during lockdown and children could carry ir studies smoothly".

Lantern is election symbol of main opposition RJD.

Kumar and or NDA leaders have on many occasions highlighted dismal power scenario in Bihar during 15 years rule of Lalu Prasad-led RJD in state from 1990-2005, which w has impreved tremendously.

Stating that state used to draw 700 MW of power supply in 2015 which has w increased to 5932 MW, Kumar said he had taken a pledge on August 15, 2012 t to seek votes in 2015 assembly elections if power availability was t increased in state.

government has completed its goal of providing power connection to every household by October 2018 while dilpadited electric wires were replaced by end of 2019, he added.

CM said that he has already declared that he would provide water to irrigate every field if people gives him opportunity to serve m.

I had made a promise of providing drinking water to every household, I fulfiled promise. Similarly, every farmland will be provided water for irrigation for which three concerned departments of water resources, mir irrigation and energy are working on a plan to implement it, he said.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Energy Departments Secretary Sanjeev Hans also addressed function.

Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar, CMs Principal Secretary Chanchal Kumar and a host of or senior officials were present on occasion.

Im credits: PTI