A JOURNEY FROM THE LANTERN AGE TO ‘ENERGIZED BIHAR’

A JOURNEY FROM THE LANTERN AGE TO ‘ENERGIZED BIHAR’

1-NOV-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stated that before 2005, Bihar was immersed in darkness, but today, the state is bathed in 24-hour electricity. He stated that this transformation is the result of years of hard work, honest intentions, and sustained efforts.

Nitish Kumar stated, "The governments before 2005 neither planned nor demonstrated any intention. At that time, even the capital, Patna, barely had 7-8 hours of electricity. In rural areas, people would dry clothes on power lines hanging from poles."

According to the Chief Minister, the state's maximum power supply at that time was only 700 megawatts, per capita consumption was 75 units, and the number of consumers was only 17.31 lakh. Worn-out wires, burnt-out transformers, and power theft were common.

After the formation of the government under the leadership of Nitish Kumar on November 24, 2005, power reform was given top priority. The Chief Minister stated, "On August 15, 2012, at Gandhi Maidan, I had said that if the power situation did not improve, I would not come to seek votes in 2015. Following that resolution, we dismantled the Bihar State Electricity Board, formed five companies, and implemented structural reforms."

In 2015, the "Har Ghar Bijli" (Power for Every Home) pledge was launched. By October 2018, two months ahead of schedule, all eligible households were provided with electricity connections. To achieve this, new grid substations, power substations, transformers, and wires were installed across the state..

Dedicated agricultural feeders have been created for farmers. Electricity is being provided to them at a rate of just 55 paise per unit. A subsidy of ₹4,395 crore has been provided for the agricultural sector in the year 2024-25. The Chief Minister said that the state is now supplying more than 8,000 MW of electricity, while the production capacity has reached more than 8,850 MW. The number of power distribution transformers has increased tenfold to 3.5 lakh, while the number of grid substations has reached 172 and the number of power substations has reached 1,260.

The government is continuously providing subsidies to reduce the burden on consumers. An electricity subsidy of ₹15,343 crore has been provided in the year 2024-25. Additionally, a scheme has been implemented to provide free electricity up to 125 units to all domestic consumers in the state. The Chief Minister stated that in the next three years, the availability of affordable and clean energy will be ensured by installing solar power plants in or near every consumer's home.

Nitish Kumar said that today Bihar has become self-reliant and energetic. He said, "We deliver on our promises. Now Bihar's future is filled with light. We have done so much work in the field of electricity that the era of lanterns will never return."