Module 3: Thermal and Hydro Power Projects
Concept
Subtopic 3.1: Thermal Power Projects
- Current position (2026): the Buxar (Chausa) thermal project of SJVN (2 × 660 MW, supercritical) is complete: unit 1 started commercial operation on 14 November 2025 and unit 2 on 12 September 2026; 85% of its power goes to Bihar. NTPC runs Barh (3,300 MW), Nabinagar (NPGC, 1,980 MW), Kahalgaon, and the Barauni and Kanti stations it took over from the state. The Pirpainti (Bhagalpur) 2,400 MW ultra-supercritical plant of the Adani group is under construction.
- Bihar's two main sources of electrical energy are thermal and hydro power.
- Barauni: BSEB's second-largest plant, total capacity 500 MW, expansion by 750 MW begun; it supplies North Bihar, but only 15-20% of capacity is used.
- Kanti (Muzaffarpur): BSEB's third-largest unit, 390 MW, using no more than 30%; expansion by 585 MW begun.
- Patna thermal plant is at Karbigahiya, south of Patna Junction, under the board. Tenughat was set up as an independent body.
- Kahalgaon (Bhagalpur), under NTPC, built with Russian help, has generated since 1992.
- SJVN; both 660 MW units are commercial by September 2026.
- Bhagalpur (under construction by the Adani group).
- 500 MW, with a 750 MW expansion begun.
- Only 15-20%.
- Karbigahiya, south of Patna Junction.
- Russia; generating since 1992.
- Since 1992.
- 390 MW; expansion by 585 MW begun.
- Question: The 1,320 MW thermal power project at Chausa (Buxar) belongs to: Answer: SJVN.
- Question: The 2,400 MW Pirpainti thermal power project is in which district? Answer: Bhagalpur.
- Question: What was the total capacity of the Barauni thermal plant (older figure)? Answer: 500 MW.
- Question: What share of Barauni's capacity is actually used? Answer: 15-20%.
- Question: Where is the Patna thermal plant located? Answer: Karbigahiya.
- Question: Kahalgaon thermal plant was built with whose help? Answer: Russia.
- Question: Since when has Kahalgaon been generating power? Answer: 1992.
- Question: What was the capacity of Kanti (Muzaffarpur) (older figure)? Answer: 390 MW.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: The 1,320 MW thermal power project at Chausa (Buxar) belongs to:
Question 2: The 2,400 MW Pirpainti thermal power project is in which district?
Question 3: What was the total capacity of the Barauni thermal plant (older figure)?
Question 4: What share of Barauni's capacity is actually used?
Question 5: Where is the Patna thermal plant located?
Question 6: Kahalgaon thermal plant was built with whose help?
Question 7: Since when has Kahalgaon been generating power?
Question 8: What was the capacity of Kanti (Muzaffarpur) (older figure)?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
The 1,320 MW thermal power project at Chausa (Buxar) belongs to:
SJVN.The 2,400 MW Pirpainti thermal power project is in which district?
Bhagalpur.What was the total capacity of the Barauni thermal plant (older figure)?
500 MW.What share of Barauni's capacity is actually used?
15-20%.Where is the Patna thermal plant located?
Karbigahiya.Kahalgaon thermal plant was built with whose help?
Russia.Since when has Kahalgaon been generating power?
1992.What was the capacity of Kanti (Muzaffarpur) (older figure)?
390 MW.Concept
Subtopic 3.2: Nabinagar and Aurangabad Projects
- Nabinagar (Aurangabad): a 1980 MW thermal station set up jointly by NTPC, BSEB and the Bihar government; expansion to 3300 MW is under way.
- Aurangabad thermal project: the state approved a 1320 MW plant in December 2009.
- It is to be built with Triton Energy Ltd of Haryana at Barun, Kochar village, Aurangabad, with two 660 MW units.
- From 1980 MW to 3300 MW.
- Triton Energy Ltd of Haryana.
- December 2009.
- Two 660 MW units.
- Aurangabad.
- Question: Nabinagar thermal station's capacity is to be raised to how much? Answer: 3300 MW.
- Question: Which company is partnering the Aurangabad (Barun) plant? Answer: Triton Energy Ltd, Haryana.
- Question: When was the 1320 MW Aurangabad plant approved? Answer: December 2009.
- Question: How many units, and of what size, will the Barun plant have? Answer: Two of 660 MW.
- Question: Nabinagar is in which district? Answer: Aurangabad.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Nabinagar thermal station's capacity is to be raised to how much?
Question 2: Which company is partnering the Aurangabad (Barun) plant?
Question 3: When was the 1320 MW Aurangabad plant approved?
Question 4: How many units, and of what size, will the Barun plant have?
Question 5: Nabinagar is in which district?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Nabinagar thermal station's capacity is to be raised to how much?
3300 MW.Which company is partnering the Aurangabad (Barun) plant?
Triton Energy Ltd, Haryana.When was the 1320 MW Aurangabad plant approved?
December 2009.How many units, and of what size, will the Barun plant have?
Two of 660 MW.Nabinagar is in which district?
Aurangabad.Concept
Subtopic 3.3: Hydro Power: History and Big Projects
- Hydro power in the state developed under the Five-Year Plans with the Damodar Valley Corporation. The state's first hydro plant began at Tilaiya (now Jharkhand) in 1953.
- Under the Third Five-Year Plan, a 20 MW hydro house was set up at Kataiya near the Kosi barrage at Bhimnagar.
- The Kosi hydro project is present Bihar's only hydro project; this multipurpose project was built with Nepal-India cooperation in 1965. The state maintains it; it lies on the East Kosi canal in Supaul.
- The state's largest, the 125 MW Dagmara hydro station, is to be expanded to 225 MW.
- Proposed large hydro projects: Dagmara 130 MW, Indrapuri reservoir 450 MW, Sinafdar PSS 345 MW, Hathiyadah-Durgawati PSS 1600 MW, Panchgotia PSS 225 MW, Telharkund PSS 400 MW.
- Tilaiya (now in Jharkhand).
- Third Five-Year Plan.
- East Kosi canal in Supaul.
- Hathiyadah-Durgawati: 1600 MW.
- 450 MW.
- To 225 MW.
- 400 MW.
- Question: Where did the state's first hydro plant start in 1953? Answer: Tilaiya.
- Question: Under which Plan was the 20 MW Kataiya hydro house set up? Answer: Third.
- Question: The Kosi hydro project lies on which canal in which district? Answer: East Kosi canal, Supaul.
- Question: Which is the largest proposed hydro project? Answer: Hathiyadah-Durgawati PSS.
- Question: What is the proposed capacity of the Indrapuri reservoir project? Answer: 450 MW.
- Question: Dagmara hydro station (125 MW) is to be expanded to how much? Answer: 225 MW.
- Question: Telharkund pumped storage scheme is proposed at what capacity? Answer: 400 MW.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: Where did the state's first hydro plant start in 1953?
Question 2: Under which Plan was the 20 MW Kataiya hydro house set up?
Question 3: The Kosi hydro project lies on which canal in which district?
Question 4: Which is the largest proposed hydro project?
Question 5: What is the proposed capacity of the Indrapuri reservoir project?
Question 6: Dagmara hydro station (125 MW) is to be expanded to how much?
Question 7: Telharkund pumped storage scheme is proposed at what capacity?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
Where did the state's first hydro plant start in 1953?
Tilaiya.Under which Plan was the 20 MW Kataiya hydro house set up?
Third.The Kosi hydro project lies on which canal in which district?
East Kosi canal, Supaul.Which is the largest proposed hydro project?
Hathiyadah-Durgawati PSS.What is the proposed capacity of the Indrapuri reservoir project?
450 MW.Dagmara hydro station (125 MW) is to be expanded to how much?
225 MW.Telharkund pumped storage scheme is proposed at what capacity?
400 MW.Concept
Subtopic 3.4: BSHPC and Small Hydro Projects
- BSHPC was set up to tap the state's hydro potential. In the first year of the Eleventh Plan it identified the big Dagmara project; a loan from the French Development Agency (FDA) is being sought.
- The Indrapuri reservoir project has been pending since 1987; BSHPC began work this year with the Water Resources Dept.
- Working small hydro: Eastern Gandak canal, Valmikinagar (W. Champaran) 15 MW; Son Western link canal, Dehri (Rohtas) 6.6 MW; Son Eastern link canal, Barun (Aurangabad) 3.3 MW; Kosi (Supaul) 19.2 MW.
- 1 MW each: Agnoor (Arwal), Dhelabagh, Nasriganj, Jainagra, Sebari (Rohtas), Triveni link canal (W. Champaran), Belsar (Arwal); Sirkhinda (Rohtas) 0.7 MW; Arwal 0.5 MW. The book gives the total as 45.3 MW, though the listed figures add up to 52.3 MW.
- The Sirkhinda project (Rohtas) was built under BSHPC with French cooperation and NABARD financing.
| Project | District | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Gandak canal, Valmikinagar | W. Champaran | 15 MW |
| Son Western link canal, Dehri | Rohtas | 6.6 MW |
| Son Eastern link canal, Barun | Aurangabad | 3.3 MW |
| Kosi hydel station | Supaul | 19.2 MW |
| Agnoor | Arwal | 1 MW |
| Dhelabagh | Rohtas | 1 MW |
| Nasriganj | Rohtas | 1 MW |
| Triveni link canal | W. Champaran | 1 MW |
| Jainagra | Rohtas | 1 MW |
| Sebari | Rohtas | 1 MW |
| Sirkhinda | Rohtas | 0.7 MW |
| Arwal | Arwal | 0.5 MW |
| Belsar | Arwal | 1 MW |
| Total (as printed) | 45.3 MW |
- French Development Agency (FDA).
- Since 1987.
- Kosi: 19.2 MW.
- 15 MW.
- NABARD, with French technical cooperation.
- Barun (Aurangabad), 3.3 MW.
- 45.3 MW as printed (Annual Report 2011-12).
- Question: From which agency is BSHPC seeking a loan for the Dagmara project? Answer: French Development Agency.
- Question: Since when has the Indrapuri reservoir project been pending? Answer: 1987.
- Question: Which is the largest working small hydro project in the list? Answer: Kosi hydel, Supaul.
- Question: What is the capacity of the Eastern Gandak canal project at Valmikinagar? Answer: 15 MW.
- Question: Who financed the Sirkhinda hydro project? Answer: NABARD.
- Question: Son Eastern link canal hydro project is at which place? Answer: Barun.
- Question: What total is given for working small hydro capacity? Answer: 45.3 MW.
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: From which agency is BSHPC seeking a loan for the Dagmara project?
Question 2: Since when has the Indrapuri reservoir project been pending?
Question 3: Which is the largest working small hydro project in the list?
Question 4: What is the capacity of the Eastern Gandak canal project at Valmikinagar?
Question 5: Who financed the Sirkhinda hydro project?
Question 6: Son Eastern link canal hydro project is at which place?
Question 7: What total is given for working small hydro capacity?
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
From which agency is BSHPC seeking a loan for the Dagmara project?
French Development Agency.Since when has the Indrapuri reservoir project been pending?
1987.Which is the largest working small hydro project in the list?
Kosi hydel, Supaul.What is the capacity of the Eastern Gandak canal project at Valmikinagar?
15 MW.Who financed the Sirkhinda hydro project?
NABARD.Son Eastern link canal hydro project is at which place?
Barun.What total is given for working small hydro capacity?
45.3 MW.