NEW DELHI, May 1 - The Bihar government has asked Nepal to clear its outstanding energy dues to the tune of over Rs 54 crore, India's Times News Network reported. As per the latest figure, the amount has been enhanced to Rs 54.46 crore payable by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) on account of exchange of power between the two, the Network said. BSEB chairman Swapan Mukherjee during his recent visit to New Delhi made a formal request to both the Union ministry of power and ministry of external affairs to take up the matter with Nepal at the earliest. Mukherjee held talks with the joint secretary, MEA, regarding the payment of dues by Nepal. BSEB, in its recent letter to the director, corporate finance, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Diwakar Poudyal, said: "BSEB has to pay substantial amount to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) towards purchase of central sector power and has to clear the payment every month to avoid payment of any surcharge." "It is again requested to release at least Rs 25 crore out of said undisputed amount Rs 54.46 crore to BSEB at the earliest so that it does not face any problem in clearing other liabilities and even payment towards purchase of central sector power," BSEB said in a letter to NEA. The letter further requested NEA to make a regular payment of current monthly bill (to the tune of Rs 7-8 crore) along with the outstanding in installments. This will also ease out the huge outstanding, it added. At present, the BSEB pays approximately Rs 100 crore to NTPC per month towards purchase of power, said BSEB spokesman S K Ghosh. In return, the BSEB hardly gets over Rs 80 crore as monthly revenue. At present, Bihar is totally dependent on the external sources. kantipuronline.com