Centre pushes eastern states to plan one nuclear plant per state

At the Regional Conference for the Eastern Region States/ UTs in Patna on 24 June, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal urged eastern states to tie up generation capacity, push renewable energy with storage, and plan for at least one nuclear plant per state.

States were asked to resolve issues delaying intra-state transmission, including Right of Way and forest clearances, and use Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 50-year interest-free loans announced in Budget 2025–26 to build infrastructure.

The Minister flagged rising discom losses due to poor tariffs, delayed payments, and high AT&C losses. He called for cost-reflective tariffs, timely true-ups, and the installation of prepaid smart meters in all government establishments by August 2025.

Smart meters for commercial, industrial, and high-load users are to be completed by November 2025.

He also highlighted the push for 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and asked states to implement RPO targets. Cybersecurity and islanding schemes were flagged as urgent priorities.

Additionally, The Hindu has reported that Mr. Khattar confirmed the Centre’s support for setting up Bihar’s first nuclear power plant. 

“If the Bihar government wants to set up a nuclear power plant, the central government is fully prepared to provide support,” he said. Bihar will also receive an additional 500 MW of power for the next three months.

SMRs are seen as well-suited for states like Bihar, where larger nuclear projects may face land, financing, or logistics constraints. The project is expected to bring stable electricity, investment, and job opportunities.