Bihar to Blacklist Firms That Surrendered Sand Mining Leases, Says Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha

Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday unequivocally asserted that the companies, which have surrendered sand mining leases, will not be allowed to participate in the fresh tender for allotment of sand mining lease in the state.

The companies have surrendered their sand mining leases for 78 sand ghats to the department citing massive losses, said Sinha who also holds mines and geology department in the state.

“The companies have surrendered their sand mining leases for 78 sand ghats to the department. It has caused a revenue loss to the tune of around Rs 700 crore to the department. These companies cited massive losses as the reason for surrendering lease license,” Sinha said.

“We will not allow them to participate in the fresh tender that will be floated to award lease for these (78) ghats. They will not be able to participate in the bidding even if they change their names or their companies’ names. We are going to change our policy to blacklist these companies,” he said while addressing a press conference here to highlight his department achievements of first 100 days of the state government.

Accompanied by Department’s Secretary Divesh Sehara, Mines Director Manesh Kumar Meena, Sinha said that these companies had procured the sand mining lease after making a bid at a price which was exorbitantly higher. They did it so to make quick money through illegal mining but they could not do so because of department’s strictness to check illegal mining and overloading which led them to surrender lease of ghats.

These companies and people will also be identified for taking further necessary action against them besides seizing their security deposits, the minister added.

BIHARI YODDHA PURASHKAR TO 72 PEOPLE

Dy CM Sinha transferred at the click of a button a total of Rs 3,70,000 into the bank accounts of 71 informants as part of the department’s initiative “Bihari Yoddha Purashkar” launched to check illegal mining and overloading. Those providing information on illegal mining, transportation and overloading by tractor will receive Rs 5,000 while those giving information about illegal movement by truck will be rewarded with Rs 10,000.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had launched the initiative to encourage public participation to check illegal mining, transportation and overloading and catch the erring persons, Sinha said adding that these “Yoddhas”- whose details are not shared because of their safety reasons- have played an important role in checking illegal mining and overloading of vehicles, making Bihar the first state in the country to take such an initiative.

REVENUE COLLECTION TARGET

Stating that the department had collected Rs 1600 crore revenue in 2021-22 which increased to much more than double to Rs 3536 crore in 2024-25, Sinha exuded confidence that the department will easily meet its revenue target collections of Rs 3800 crore as it has, so far, raked in more than Rs 3000 crore.

The department expects to collect Rs 200 to Rs 300 crore in the month of March besides the department expects to get Rs 500 to Rs 600 from other work departments, he said.

TRANSIT PASS MADE MANDATORY FOR MINOR MINERAL VECHICLES

In an important decision to make transportation of minor minerals in the state more transparent and well-regulated, the government has made it mandatory to obtain transit pass (TP) for vehicles entering Bihar border from other states carrying minor minerals such as sand, stones, stone chips, morrum and stone dust.

Under the new arrangement, the mineral-laden vehicles entering the state border will be digitally monitored through a system integrator.

The decision is expected to increase the state’s revenue significantly, Dy CM said adding that it will also effectively curb illegal mining and illegal transportation of minerals from other states.

CCTV cameras will be installed at the borders to monitor vehicles carrying minerals so that their movement can be continuously observed. Strict action will be taken against the officials concerned if negligence is found at any level.

OTHER DECISIONS—

Internet enabled CCTV cameras have been installed in all the functional sand mining ghats, he said and added that 400 police force have been deployed to check illegal mining in the state.

Out of the 12 mineral blocks, the bidding process is currently underway for nine blocks, the minister said that bidding for two blocks- one each in Rohtas for Glauconite and one in Gaya for nickel, chromium and platinum- have been successfully completed.

Following the department’s strict vigil and action, it has conducted 31,997 raids and lodged more than 1600 FIRs and arrested more than 400 people between April and November 2025, Dy CM said.