Patna: Slamming the Centre for turning down coal linkage for a thermal power project, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday questioned why states should waste time seeking the Prime Minister's intervention when decisions were taken by individual ministries.
"We knew in advance that the coal ministry's likely decision on coal linkage for the thermal power expansion project (2x250MW) at Barauni," Kumar said.
He said because of this an all-party delegation met the PM two months ago and submitted a memorandum requesting his intervention to get coal linkage sanctioned for the power project.
The Prime Minister assured the delegation that he would look into the matter, yet the coal ministry went ahead with its decision to reject coal linkage for the project, he said.
"Why do states waste their time in seeking the Prime Minister's intervention when individual ministries take decisions on their own? " he asked.
He criticised the Coal Ministry for ignoring the written request by the Power Ministry for coal linkage to the Barauni project, and said it was imperative to obtain environment clearance for the project to carry out its expansion to meet electricity requirements of the state and its people.
Kumar said that the Centre should consider giving coal linkage to not only to the Barauni project, but to all public and private sectors power projects to enable Bihar to become a power surplus state.
The chief minister also criticised the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for threatening non-renewal of licence of the Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport Patna for not meeting security requirements for air traffic.
The chief minister said the Union Aviation Ministry should first make up its mind what it wanted from the state government.
The state government was ready to work on suggestions given by the Aviation Ministry and the DGCA.
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