By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A Bihar cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday, resulted in the approval of 22 key agendas. Among the most significant decisions was for the police department, with approval granted to equip all investigating officers (IOs) of the Bihar Police with laptops and smartphones. An allocation of ₹190.632 crore has been sanctioned for this purpose, marking a step towards making the Bihar Police more technologically advanced.
Additionally, the cabinet approved the Bihar Pharmacist Cadre Amendment Rules 2024, which will regulate appointments and service conditions for basic category posts in the Bihar Pharmacist Cadre. The matter is currently under review by the Patna High Court.
To facilitate the upcoming elections for the majority of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the state, the Bihar Election Authority in Patna received approval for an advance of ₹18.64 crore from the Bihar Contingency Fund. Furthermore, the Bihar Technical Services Commission has been granted ₹6 crore for conducting competitive examinations in the 2024-25 financial year.
In a disciplinary move, the cabinet approved the dismissal of Dr Nadra Fatima, Medical Officer at Sadar Hospital, Banka, due to unauthorised absence. Meanwhile, Dr Janardan Prasad Sukumar, the former Regional Additional Director of Health Services, has been reinstated after his dismissal order was rescinded.
Other notable decisions include the approval of the Bihar Mineral Amendment Rules 2024 and the reorganisation of Group A and B posts under the Bihar Agriculture Service Category III. The cabinet also sanctioned ₹270.31 crore for the construction of the Kundghat Reservoir Scheme.
Under the Kosi-Mechi Inter-State Link Project, ₹14.16 crore has been allocated for preparing a detailed project report, including surveys and exploration work for Phase II. Additionally, ₹89.948 crore has been approved for the construction of a pump canal scheme on the Karma Nasha River.
The revival and electrification of 21,644 houses across 132 villages in Kaimur and Rohtas districts have also been given a green light, with an allocation of ₹117.80 crore. The funding will be shared between the central and state governments in a 60:40 ratio, with the Bihar Government contributing ₹47.12 crore.
Further, approval has been granted for the creation of 20 posts to ensure the smooth operation of Bapu Tower in Patna, alongside ₹1.6351 crore for the establishment of a Director Museum post. The cabinet has also sanctioned the creation of 43 posts for a new Industrial Training Institute in Mokama.
