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      | Patna, (Bihar Times): In a rare display of unity
leaders from   Bihar, cutting across the party-lines,
called on the Union agriculture,   energy and oil
ministers on Monday evening and sought more attention
for   the state.
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 Led by the chief minister Nitish Kumar the   all-party
    delegation urged that top priority should be given to
    Bihar,   which is facing food grains, Kerosene, LPG and
    electricity crisis, especially   after the devastating
    flood of the last monsoon. The idea of   all-party
    delegation came up at the meeting of the leaders of
    different   political parties in Patna on January 29.
 While calling on Murli Deora,   Union Petroleum and
    Natural gas Minister in his chamber the   delegation
    requested him to increase the allotment of Kerosene
    and LPG   quota to cater to the essential needs of the
    people of Bihar. Deora assured   them that by coming
 Monday he will convey the action being taken in   this
    regard to the Chief Minister.
 
 The delegation than called on   agriculture minister,
    Sharad Pawar, in his official chamber and   requested
    him to increase the release of quota of essential food
    grains to   cater the needs of the people of Bihar.
    Pawar conceded that the flood   increased the problem of
    Bihar and assured that he would put up the   issue
    before the cabinet and that the Planning Commission
    would be taken   into confidence. Every BPL family gets
    35 kg food grains per month and as   such 4,23,500
    metric tonnes food grains is required for the needy
    people   of Bihar.
 
 The delegation late in the evening met Union   Energy
    Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and apprised him of the
    present   situation in the state. He was told that at
    present the state was totally   dependent on the supply
    of electricity from central government because   the
    production in state is only 120 MW––70 from Baruni and
      
    50 from Kanti thermal power plants.
 
 The supply of electricity from   Central pool is 1169 MW
    but actually only 680-750 MW is made available   to
    Bihar these days. Out of this 350 MW is supplied to
    Nepal and to   essential services.
  Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Abdul Bari   Siddique,
    State President RJD, Shakil Ahmad Khan, deputy leader
    RJD in the   House, Sadanand Singh, State President of
    Congress, Maheshwar Singh, leader   of LJP in the House,
    Badri Narayan Lal, State Secretary CPI, Zulffikar   Ali
    Bari, State General Secretary NCP, Vijay Kant Thakur,
    State Secretary   CPI (M), Gopal Kumar Aggarwal MLA of
    Samajwadi Party, Radha Mohan Singh,   State President
    BJP, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, State
    President   JD (U) and Shrawan Kumar, Chief whip of JD
    (U) form the delegation.
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