By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: From October 15, sand mining operations in Bihar will be monitored using drones. To ensure transparency, banners will be displayed at all district offices, including all sand ghats. The boundaries of the settlement ghats will be marked before mining begins. Government banners will be put up at unsanctioned ghats to enable swift action against illegal mining. Informants who report illegal mining will be kept confidential and honoured. Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Mines and Geology, Vijay Kumar Sinha, shared this information during a review meeting with departmental officials on Wednesday.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed officials that some individuals have been neglecting to prepare records for secondary loading. Therefore, the rule will be amended to convert secondary loading into K-licence. He also stated that in cases of illegal sand mining, a notice will be issued to the adjacent settlement holder, questioning why they failed to report the illegal activity.
Additionally, responsibility will be assigned to the police inspector of the concerned police station. He emphasised that mining should be seen as a boon rather than a curse. From October 15, drone monitoring will be initiated to oversee the boundaries of sand ghats, providing an accurate view of illegal mining activities.
The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted the government’s efforts to increase revenue. Last year, revenue amounted to ₹575 crore by September, which has now risen to ₹1,034 crore for the same period this year, reflecting an increase of approximately 80 per cent. He attributed this growth to the transparency initiatives of the Bihar government and the commitment of officials and staff, which has also helped curb illegal mining.
