Patna: Bihar’s deputy chief minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, has announced a series of stringent measures aimed at tackling land-related fraud and administrative negligence, promising action “stronger than a bulldozer” against those found guilty of forging documents or colluding with land mafias.
Speaking at a press conference in Patna on Wednesday, Sinha said he has been entrusted with the Land Revenue Reforms Department under the leadership of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the chief minister, Nitish Kumar. He acknowledged that land disputes remain one of the state’s most persistent sources of conflict and said public expectations for reform are high.
According to Sinha, a recent department review revealed significant discrepancies and challenges. Around 4.6 million applications have been filed under various land-related schemes, of which resolutions for roughly 1.2 million have been uploaded. “Any problem related to land will be resolved at all costs,” he said.
Sinha announced that a dedicated flying squad will be established to investigate the growing number of cases involving forged land documents. Mutation and correction processes will receive top priority, with weekly reviews ordered to improve efficiency and accountability. He warned government officials against rejecting applications without justification. “If an officer rejects an application, a full reason must be provided,” he said, adding that any officer enabling fraud would face strict consequences.
He also cautioned officials allegedly cooperating with land mafias, saying neither their office nor the administration would function under the influence of such networks. Regular meetings are to be held at every panchayat, staff attendance will be closely tracked, and document access will be standardised across local bodies, he said. Monitoring of all zones will be conducted from a central command at the department headquarters.
Addressing the issue of encroachment on government land, Sinha invoked the symbolism of the bulldozer – commonly associated with demolition drives in India – saying it “brings joy” as a sign of tough action. “If fraud is detected, action will be taken even more severe than a bulldozer,” he said. Citizens who provide credible information on illegal activities will be recognised and rewarded. A special campaign targeting encroachment on government land is expected to be launched after March.
