Patna: The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government is preparing to auction key mineral blocks in Rohtas, Gaya, and Jamui, with an expected revenue generation of around ₹5,000 crore. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Mines and Geology Department, Mihir Kumar Singh, announced this development on Wednesday, September 4.
“Three mineral blocks in Rohtas and Jamui districts are slated for auction in October. The state government expects these auctions to bring in ₹5,000 crore in revenue,” said Singh. He further added that the mineral blocks recently auctioned include 88.38 tonnes of glauconite in Pipradih-Bhurwa and Chutia-Nowhatta blocks in Rohtas, along with rocks containing chromite, nickel, and platinum group elements in Gaya district. These mineral-rich areas span across 12.46 sq km of non-forest land.
While the auctions promise to be a financial boon for the state, Bihar’s mining sector is also grappling with rising incidents of illegal mining. The Mines and Geology Department is seeking more stringent enforcement measures to combat these activities. Singh revealed that the department has requested magisterial powers for its mining officers and inspectors to help them monitor and take action against illegal mining more effectively.
“If our officers are granted magisterial powers, we will be able to curb illegal mining activities with greater authority and efficiency,” Singh explained. The department is facing growing challenges, with violent attacks by sand mafias on the rise. These incidents have resulted in injuries to police officers and senior department officials, with major hotspots being Patna, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Saran, and Vaishali districts.
Despite the department’s proposal to establish an ‘armed mining police,’ the state government has not accepted the request. However, efforts are ongoing to coordinate with state police forces to address illegal mining in the affected districts.
As the state looks to capitalise on its mineral resources, the upcoming auction marks a significant step in boosting Bihar’s economy, even as authorities face the daunting task of clamping down on illegal mining operations.
Comments are closed.