This was communicated to Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) chairman M M Singh by NPCI executive director S Thakur. This comes in the wake of a proposal sent by the state government to chairman Atomic Energy Commission, Mumbai, to seek his guidance and cooperation in this regard.

It may be mentioned that CM Nitish Kumar, during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in February this year, had made a strong for setting up a nuclear power plant in the state.

Making common cause with the CM, railway minister Lalu Prasad and steel and fertilizer minister Ram Vilas Paswan too had met the Prime Minister to request him to set up nuclear power plant in Bihar.

Though the state government had decided to allot a site for the 2,000 MW plant at Rajauli in Nawada district, it was also willing to offer alternative sites in neighbouring Gaya and Aurangabad districts to the NPCIL team which is expected here soon, sources said.

"After selecting the site, the team of expert will prepare a feasibility report that will be presented to the Union cabinet for its approval," the sources added.

In view of the proposed visit of the Central team, the BSEB has set up a five-member team to assist the former in the selection of the site.