Bihar deputy CM, ET RealEstate
PATNA: Deputy CM-cum-mines and geology department minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, said that strong administrative proceedings would be initiated against the department’s officials and lower rung staff if they were found to be indulging in abetting illegal sand mining, a communiqué issued by the department said.
Sinha’s directive has come in the backdrop of large-scale illegal sand mining, transportation and storage by the agencies in the Aurangabad district. The illegal practice was detected following a probe conducted by the special investigation team (SIT) of the department, after an anonymous complaint in this connection was received at the state headquarters of the department.
“The govt is committed to legally tenable use of the state’s mines resources, including yellow and white sand. Their illegal mining, transportation and storage would not be tolerated,” Sinha said, and also instructed the officials of the department to respond seriously to any complaint, anonymous or otherwise, received at the state headquarters. The department has also announced rewards for the anonymous complainants to prevent illegal activities and irregularities.
As to the complaint regarding illegal activities related to Aurangabad district, the SIT has mentioned about the unsatisfactory performance of the district mines and geology office in checking and preventing the illegal activities, Sinha said. He added that a few officials and staff were involved in the carrying out of illegal sand mining, transportation and storage of sand.
He also referred to the involvement of a data entry operator and executive assistant, who have also been charged with making illegal collections from the persons indulging in illegal activities.
As much as 51,000 cubic feet of illegally stored sand has also been recovered during the investigation by the SIT and the follow-up actions have also been started. Accordingly, FIRs have been lodged against the culprits at the Aurangabad Mofaasil and Siriup police stations, and departmental proceedings against the staff have been started, Sinha said.
