Resumption of sand mining to bring much-needed relief: Bihar minister

PATNA: The resumption of sand mining at all the authorized ghats in the state from October 1 would bring the much-needed relief to the people facing problems due to the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), said mining and geology minister, Janak Ram, on Saturday. He added that sand would be available at the rates fixed by the government.
Sand mining has been banned in Bihar for three months from July 1 to September 30.
The minister told this reporter on Saturday that the department was planning to monitor the mining ghats through drone cameras, but the government had not given its permission yet. “The idea is to keep tabs on the illegal activities of the sand mafias operating in districts like Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Patna, Rohtas, and Saran,” he added.
Earlier, chief minister Nitish Kumar had asked the authorities concerned to check illegal mining during a review meeting a few days ago. He had reiterated that stern action would be initiated against the officials having links with the mining mafias. Recently, the Economic Offences Unit had initiated action against 41 officials, including two IPS officers, for their alleged connection with the sand mafias.
Sources said the sand of the Sone, Ganga, Gandak, Falgu, Kamla Balan, Kosi, and Parman rivers was usually mined.
Meanwhile, the incidents of attack on police teams have increased in the recent past.
The members of the illegal sand mafias had attacked a team from the Rampur police station in Gaya district on September 7. A home guard jawan, identified as Naurangi Mistri, was shot at and injured. Another incident took place in Saran on the same day when over 100 miscreants attacked a team of the district police, leaving several cops injured.
Earlier, a joint team of the district police and the mining department was assaulted by sand mafia members in Banka district on September 1. “A constable sustained serious injuries in the attack,” a cop said.