Extending an helping hand to power-starved Bihar, the Centre has agreed to allocate 50 per cent of electricity from NTPC's upcoming 1320 MW Barh unit in Patna district.

It has also agreed to expeditiously take up the fuel linkage issue related to Barauni expansion with the Coal Ministry.

The assurance was given by Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in a recent letter written to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

An all-party delegation led by Mr. Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month on the power situation in the state.