The Bihar Government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding for a 1,320-MW coal-based thermal power project at Chausa in Buxar district. The State expects to procure 85 per cent of the total power generated or 1,054 MW from two units of 660 MW each. The MoU for the joint venture was signed by Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd (BSPHCL), Bihar Power Infrastructure Company Pvt. Ltd (BPIC) and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVN) – a joint venture company of the Union and Himachal Pradesh governments. “About power generation, I have resolved ‘do or die’. The Government is putting its best efforts to end power scarcity,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said at the signing ceremony. Apart from the various power projects currently under construction in the State, the Government is also reviewing the supply of available power in its districts. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 6,791.4 crore, which would be borne entirely by SJVN which will also implement the project. About 1,080 acres of land has been identified for the project. A detailed report and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) have been completed. Lending his support to the Chausa project, Mr. Nitish Kumar said the Government will facilitate work at the ground level. BPIC has completed most of the requisite procedures, including land acquisition, water clearance and environment-related studies. The project is slated to be completed by 2016-17 and expected to provide 7,848 million units of power to Bihar annually.