Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has issued a stern warning to sand contractors regarding illegal mining activities and revenue targets. While reviewing the performance of the Mines and Geology Department, he announced that the state collected 3592.60 crore in revenue for the financial year 2025-26 as of April 1, 2026. This figure shows a growth of over 56 crore compared to the previous year. The Deputy CM also indicated that a major positive update for the stone industry is on the way.
Mining Revenue Growth and Financial Targets
The department has shown consistent growth in revenue collection over the last few years. Despite challenges such as the surrender of sand ghat leases, the state remains confident in reaching its ambitious financial goals. The revenue collection process is being monitored closely to ensure that all pending amounts from various work departments are recovered in a timely manner.
| Financial Year | Revenue Collected (in Crores) |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 1600.00 |
| 2024-25 | 3536.21 |
| 2025-26 (Current) | 3592.60 |
| Target (2025-26) | 3800.00 |
The department expects to receive another 122 crore from the Railways, RWD, and CPWD in April to help surpass the 3800 crore target set for the current fiscal year. However, the surrender of 78 sand ghats by contractors has resulted in an estimated revenue loss of nearly 600 to 700 crore.
Strict Measures Against Illegal Mining
The Bihar government has implemented a zero-tolerance policy against the sand mafia. New rules ensure that contractors who surrender their leases will be blacklisted and barred from future bidding processes. To improve monitoring, internet-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed at mining sites, and 400 dedicated police personnel are deployed to stop illegal transport.
- Informants reporting illegal sand tractors receive a reward of 5,000 rupees.
- Information leading to the seizure of illegal sand trucks earns a reward of 10,000 rupees.
- Station House Officers face suspension if illegal mining occurs within their jurisdiction.
- Sand mining depth is strictly limited to 3 meters to protect the environment.
- Mandatory use of e-challans for all sand transportation activities.
Deputy CM Sinha emphasized that any official found involved in supporting illegal mining will face strong administrative action. The department has already issued notices to District Mines Development Officers and Inspectors who failed to meet their revenue targets in their respective regions.
