Bhagalpur/Patna: Preparatory work has begun for a proposed 2,400 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant by the Adani Group in the Pirpainti block of Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, following an environmental public hearing that saw widespread backing from local residents.
The hearing was held on Thursday at the Pirpainti block office premises under the supervision of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board. It was chaired by additional district magistrate (law and order) Rakesh Ranjan and the board’s regional officer, Shambhunath Jha.
Villagers and representatives from several panchayats attended the meeting, with many raising their hands to register support for the project. Speakers repeatedly argued that the power plant would bring long-term economic benefits to the area, including employment opportunities and improved infrastructure.
Addressing the gathering, local representatives said the project could help curb migration by creating jobs closer to home. “Pirpainti has the potential to become an employment hub,” one speaker said, adding that the plant could act as a catalyst for wider industrial growth in Bhagalpur district and Bihar as a whole.
R N Shukla, senior environmental officer of the Adani Group, presented technical details of the project and outlined measures proposed to minimise environmental impact. He said the company would adopt modern pollution control technologies and comply with all regulatory standards. Villagers raised concerns about environmental safety, local hiring and development works, to which project officials offered assurances.
Among those who addressed the meeting were block head Rashmi Kumari, mukhiya Arvind Sah, former MLA Ramvilas Paswan, social worker Munna Singh, Mukhiya Association state vice-president Amarendra Kumar Jhumpa, Md Ayaz, landowner Sushil Singh, sarpanch Varun Goswami, and mukhiyas Gulfasan Parveen, Babli Kumari and Sapna Kumari.
Senior district officials, including Kahalgaon sub-divisional magistrate K C Gupta, additional superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar, circle officer Chandrashekhar Kumar, block development officer Abhimanyu Kumar and station house officer Neeraj Kumar, were also present.
Officials said feedback from the public hearing would be incorporated into the environmental clearance process, as the state moves ahead with one of its largest proposed power projects.
