Patna, Oct 15 (IANS) The Bihar government has deployed drones to curb illegal mining in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said on Tuesday.
He emphasised the government's commitment to eliminate illegal mining.
"We have appealed to the citizens to report any incidents of illegal sand mining. We will also reward them as an incentive for providing valuable information. The department will ensure the confidentiality of informants and, in recognition of their contributions, will honour them," he said.
In his directive, the deputy chief minister urged officials to remain vigilant and ensure that no illegal mining activities occur in the state.
The Bihar government has designated 984 sand ghats - 581 yellow sand ghats and 403 white sand ghats - for mining activities.
Of these, 373 sand ghats have already been auctioned, and the process of auctioning the remaining 611 ghats was underway. Previously, 580 sand ghats were operational, but around 250 larger ghats were not auctioned due to their size.
To make them more manageable and facilitate the auction process, these larger ghats were subdivided into smaller units, increasing the total number of sand ghats by 400, and bringing the overall count to 984.
This expansion and formalisation of sand mining operations aim to curb illegal mining and significantly boost state revenue.
In 2022-23, Bihar's sand mining generated Rs 575 crore in revenue, while the same period in 2023-24 saw a significant jump, with Rs 1,034 crore collected. The officials were expecting to generate double the revenue in 2024-25 compared to the corresponding period last year.
The government's efforts, including the use of drones for monitoring and public involvement in reporting illegal activities, are part of a broader plan to optimise this revenue stream.
The seasonal halt on sand mining, imposed from June 15 during the monsoon per the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) guidelines, ended on Tuesday (October 15).
--IANS
ajk/svn
You may also like
Chhattisgarh CM Hikes Dearness Allowance to 50% for State Employees Ahead of Diwali
Youth arrested in connection with rape and murder at Bengal's Krishnanagar (ld)
Nayab Saini set to take oath as Haryana CM on Thursday, independent MLAs come out in support
Love Island star hospitalised but not ready to reveal why as she confirms surgery needed
Expert warns against social media vaping trend that could burn your house down
Ed Miliband slammed over Net Zero 'obsession' that leaves UK unable to make steel
BBC Antiques Road Trip star says 'I'm going home' after auctioneer's verdict on big profit
Kemi Badenoch issues eight-word warning to Robert Jenrick as Tory leadership race hots up
ITV Big Brother Marcello's sparks Ofcom complaints over 'misogynistic' comments
SL vs WI: Dream11 Prediction 3rd T20I, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 2024
People are just realising what the patterns on custard creams are
Martin Lewis urges 'act now' for £10k pension boost for anyone born after this date
Lebanon's Nabatiyeh mayor killed in Israeli strikes as Hezbollah strongholds targeted
Prince Harry urged to do one thing if he wants to reconcile with Prince William
Panic in Greece as popular islands 'stretched to capacity' as locals blast overtourism
Ex-Indian Railways engineer, an IITian, now builds rockets for Elon Musk's SpaceX: LinkedIn profile goes viral
'Assisted dying would have ended my mum's misery - she begged to be put to sleep'
Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Limited Edition Brings Accessories Worth Rs 20,000
A Milestone for Women and Child Welfare: Foundation Laid for India's First Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Bhavan
Britain's Got Talent fans divided after first-look at new judging panel unveiled