Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera has alleged that Indian business conglomerate Gautam Adani’s Adani group was gifted 1050 acres of land in Bihar’s Bhagalpur. He made the said allegations ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.
This claim was picked and propagated by Congress-friendly media. However, the facts are far from this. Here is what happened:
Bhagalpur thermal power plant
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently laid the foundation stone of Bhagalpur’s mega thermal power project ahead of Bihar elections. This ₹30,000 crore investment aims to establish a 2400 MW thermal power plant in Pirpainti, with completion targeted by 2028. To put this in context, Bihar consumed only 700 MW electricity till 2005 under RJD’s jungle raj era. And now, only one power plant shall generate more than thrice the electricity consumed back then.
Today, Bihar’s power consumption stands at 8,428 MW, and electricity users have multiplied twelve times since then. Villages that once saw electricity as news now enjoy 22–24 hours of reliable supply daily.
Why is Bihar adding more capacity when power is already sufficient?
The new plant ensures additional supply for industries, stabilizing energy for manufacturing, agriculture, and modern farming techniques. The electricity generated in this plant shall leave Bihar with surplus power. The surplus that shall pave way for the growth of industries which is fundamental for the state in all aspects.
The Bhagalpur thermal power plant , ostensibly sold off to Adani – would be the mitochondria if Industries has to develop further in that state.
This power plant is also about employment generation. Its construction is estimated to provide jobs to 12,000 people for three years, while 3,000 permanent jobs will remain after commissioning.
How true is the claim that Adani got 1050 Acres for ₹1 as a gift?
Congress has alleged that the state gifted 1,050 acres to Adani for just ₹1, sparking anti-development protests. However, facts show otherwise. The land has been leased as Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), following standard procedures. It started when the NDA government identified land and invited tenders for a power plant project.
Adani Power won by bidding the lowest rate—₹6.075 per unit—against competitors like JSW, Torrent Power, Bajaj, and Lalit Power. All other companies that bid for the project were given same offer. 1050 acres, owned by the government shall be leased for ₹1. The bidder will get the land and develop a thermal power plant. This is how a PPP model works. There is nothing to elucidate about it- except for the fact that when Adani gets involved, the anti-development template is employed at work.
The treacherous templates are the same: that suggests that Lal Quila has been sold off, railway stations are now private property and the airports belongs to the real estate. The list goes on – but the fact remains, these claims have no resonance on the ground.
This developmental practice is common from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Assam. Whether it’s a NDA ruled state or the INDI Alliance ruled one, land is leased practically for no cost. Private investors spend thousands of crores, boosting economy, employment, and industry far beyond the land’s notional value.
Propagating this 1050 acres lease as a sale scandal blocks Bihar’s industrial growth
The hullabaloo over the Bhagalpur thermal power plant and that Adani Power got 1050 Acres for ₹1 is not new. From 2014, there is no dearth of such allegations. However there is no dearth of instances too that all such tempelates have been defeated and development has been delivered.
But to drag this Bhagalpur thermal power plant in controversy is like blocking the idea of Viksit Bihar; Infact, this script resembles West Bengal’s Singur, where Tata’s Nano project collapsed after political protests, leaving land wasted and jobs lost.
Here, the project itself is an industry, plus its electricity will nurture other industries in Bihar. Some would say that this bothers the opposition – if Bihar develops, migrants won’t be exploited in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, or Telangana.
So let’s verify the claims- one at a time
Did the government sell land to Adani? No, it was leased under transparent bidding.
Why for ₹1? Because the investment exceeds land value many times over, benefiting Bihar far more than Adani.
Will Adani alone profit? No – Bihar gains cheaper power, employment, industrial growth and agricultural energy security.
Were one million mango trees cut? No, actual estimates suggest 75,000 trees, while our ground team suggests it be not more than 10,000 trees at the most, alongside settlements and barren patches. Moreover, a 100-acre green belt will offset ecological loss, balancing environment with development.
The “Modi sold India to Adani-Ambani” narrative has been repeated for 11 years without takers. Once again, misinformation targets a project meant to secure Bihar’s industrial future.
