The Bihar government’s decision to lease 1,020 acres in the Harinikola region of Bhagalpur to Adani Power Group for a token rate of just ₹1 per year for 30 years has ignited fierce criticism. The land, currently a sprawling mango orchard harboring nearly one million trees that support local livelihoods, is slated for conversion into a 2,400 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant.
Local farmers and environmentalists warn that the project will result in massive deforestation and irreversible ecological damage, contradicting Bihar’s own tree-plantation drives. Critics also question the fairness of the compensation paid to villagers, citing reports of intimidation and inconsistent payouts. Opposition voices highlight the sharp contrast between the government’s symbolic pro-environment campaigns and this large-scale land surrender to a private conglomerate.
Project Details and Government Position
Adani Power, India’s largest private thermal power producer, secured a Letter of Intent (LoI) followed by a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd. to supply electricity at a competitive rate of ₹6.075 per kWh from the Pirpainti plant. The company plans to invest approximately $3 billion (~₹27,000–29,000 crore), aiming to commission the plant within 60 months. The project is projected to generate 10,000–12,000 construction-phase jobs and around 3,000 ongoing operational roles.
The Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Package (BIPPP-2025) offers free and subsidized land, financial incentives, and infrastructure support to attract large-scale industries, with a target to generate one crore jobs in five years. This package underpins the government’s strategy to accelerate industrialization and employment growth locally, reducing outward migration of youth.
Viral Video fueling this controversy:
Controversy Amid Development Push
While government and project proponents emphasize industrial development and enhanced power access, there are serious concerns about environmental impact—particularly the felling of a historic mango orchard and strain on local water resources from coal-based emissions and fly ash. Villagers allege coercion and unfair treatment during land acquisition, leading to protests and appeals to courts.
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The Bhagalpur Adani thermal plant epitomizes the difficult balancing act between Bihar’s ambitions for energy security and industrial growth, and the urgent need to safeguard environmental sustainability and protect vulnerable agrarian communities—a challenge that remains unresolved amid rising public scrutiny and calls for transparent dialogue.
