Patna: The Bihar government is considering the establishment of nuclear power plants in Siwan and Banka, signalling a renewed push to expand the state’s energy portfolio through nuclear sources.
On Friday, Energy Department Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh confirmed that a detailed feasibility study will be conducted this year to assess all aspects of nuclear power development in the state. “The state government is working at multiple technical and institutional levels to explore the possibilities in the field of nuclear energy,” he said.
The process includes preliminary studies, land and water resource evaluations, and coordination with relevant agencies, including the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the Bihar State Power Generation Company, the Water Resources Department, and local district administrations.
This marks a continuation of earlier efforts to introduce nuclear energy in Bihar. In 2014, NPCIL conducted a site survey in Rajauli, which was found to be geologically suitable. However, further technical assessment was deemed necessary to move the project forward.
A key component of the current evaluation involves ensuring adequate water supply for potential nuclear plants. In a communication to the Ministry of Power, Bihar’s Chief Secretary had already submitted detailed information regarding water availability for a proposed 2×700 MW plant at Rajauli.
Officials have begun assessing alternative water sources near the Ghaghra river in Siwan and the Ganga in Shambhuganj, Banka. The Water Resources Department is currently carrying out technical testing to examine the viability of these options.
