Bihar inks pact for solar power to Rajgir, Gaya towns

PATNA: Bihar will achieve the unique distinction of being the first state in the country to provide 24×7 green power to its tourist towns of Rajgir and Bodh Gaya, as it inked a power sale agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Central government PSU, on Friday to purchase 210 MW renewable hybrid energy for its Buddhist pilgrim towns, said state power officials.

“Bihar has opted for a bundle power plan, using solar energy during the day and hydel power through pump storage facility in the evening to meet its full requirement of clean power for Rajgir and Bodh Gaya,” said Sanjeev Hans, Bihar’s principal secretary, energy, and also the chairman-cum-managing director of the Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL).

“The excess solar energy generated during the day will be used to run the turbines to pump and store water in the reservoir upstream and generate hydel pump storage power through it in the evening,” he said.