Patna: The Bihar government has reviewed the progress of four proposed sites for 2×700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) nuclear power projects and directed all concerned departments to complete key regulatory processes within the next 12 months.
The review was chaired by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Thursday and focused on the technical feasibility, land availability and water requirements for the proposed projects at Bhitiya and Shambhuganj in Banka district, Rajauli in Nawada district and Darauli in Siwan district.
According to the government, the proposed projects form part of Bihar’s efforts to strengthen reliable base-load electricity generation while contributing to national clean energy and net-zero objectives.
Water And Land Requirements Reviewed
Officials informed the meeting that each 2×700 MWe nuclear power plant would require around 80 million cubic metres (MCM) of water annually for its cooling system.
Of this, around 58 MCM would be consumed during operations, while approximately 22 MCM of radiation-free water would be treated, recycled and discharged back to the source for potential use in irrigation and other suitable purposes.
Each project would also require approximately 1,000 acres of land, officials said.
Progress On Proposed Sites
During the review, officials reported that the Water Resources Department had already issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the supply of 80 MCM of water annually from the Badua Reservoir for the proposed Bhitiya site in Banka. The Forest Department has also granted the required clearances.
The Chief Secretary directed the district administration to extend administrative support and resolve local issues that could affect project implementation.
For the proposed Rajauli site in Nawada, representatives of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) informed the meeting that the location was found unsuitable because of a nearby major fault line that does not meet the seismic safety standards prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Conditional Water Clearance Sought For Two Sites
The meeting also reviewed the proposed Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) project sites at Darauli in Siwan and Shambhuganj in Banka.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to obtain a conditional no-objection certificate or assurance from the Water Resources Department regarding the annual availability of 80 MCM of water for both locations. The move is intended to allow geotechnical investigations and preliminary site studies to begin without waiting for final statutory approvals.
Officials clarified that the conditional assurance would remain subject to final water allocation and other regulatory clearances.
Departments Asked To Work In Mission Mode
Pratyaya Amrit directed all concerned departments to complete regulatory processes, including permissions for borehole drilling, in-principle land assurance and water allocation procedures, within the next 12 months.
According to the government, timely completion of these processes is expected to facilitate the early grant of in-principle approval from the Central Government for the proposed nuclear power projects.
Senior officials from the Energy Department, Water Resources Department, Revenue and Land Reforms Department, and the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change attended the meeting, along with representatives of NTPC and NPCIL.
