Patna, June 17: The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved 29 agenda items, including a new framework for land acquisition in proposed township areas and a scientific study of sand deposits in five major rivers across the state.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, cleared measures intended to address land acquisition challenges in Greenfield Satellite Township areas and support industrial investment projects approved by the government.
Relief For Landowners In Township Areas
The cabinet approved a proposal authorising the Bihar State Housing Board to purchase land under the Bihar Raiyati Land Purchase Policy 2026, which has been notified by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department.
According to the government, the decision has been taken in view of restrictions on the sale, purchase and transfer of land in areas earmarked for Greenfield Satellite Townships. The new arrangement is intended to provide an alternative mechanism for acquiring land required for housing and urban development projects.
Officials said the Housing Board will be able to purchase land from raiyats, while designated government authorities will be empowered to acquire land for public schemes and to purchase or lease land for projects approved by the State Investment Promotion Board.
The government said the measure is expected to help landowners meet immediate financial needs while ensuring the availability of land for infrastructure, housing and investment projects. Patna Press could not independently verify the projected benefits cited by the government.
Move aimed at supporting industrial investment
The decision is also expected to facilitate land allocation for industrial and commercial ventures approved by the State Investment Promotion Board.
Land availability has emerged as a key challenge for several large-scale development projects in Bihar. The new policy seeks to streamline the acquisition process while balancing the interests of landowners and investors.
The government has not yet disclosed the extent of land likely to be acquired under the policy or the specific township projects that may benefit from the arrangement.
Bihar to assess sand deposits in five rivers
In a separate decision, the cabinet approved a scientific study to assess sand availability in the Son, Kiul, Phalgu, Morhar and Chanan rivers.
The government sanctioned Rs 2.32 crore for the exercise, which will examine the quantity of fresh sand deposited in riverbeds after the monsoon season. Officials said the findings will be used to determine future sand mining permissions.
The study comes amid ongoing efforts to regulate sand extraction and ensure that mining activities comply with environmental norms. Sand is a critical raw material for Bihar’s construction sector, and decisions regarding mining leases often have implications for infrastructure projects and housing development.
Mining corporation named nodal agency
The cabinet also approved a proposal designating the Bihar State Mining Corporation as the nodal agency for preparing mining plans and obtaining environmental clearances before the e-auction of identified stone mining zones.
Officials said the corporation will coordinate the necessary technical and regulatory processes required before mining blocks are offered through auction.
The move is intended to streamline the allocation of mining areas and ensure compliance with environmental regulations before commercial operations begin.
Why the decisions matter
The cabinet’s decisions have implications for both Bihar’s urban development and natural resource management sectors.
For residents, the land purchase framework could accelerate the development of new housing and township projects, while the sand assessment study may influence the availability and pricing of construction materials in the coming years.
The government is expected to issue detailed implementation guidelines for the land purchase policy and initiate the river sand survey ahead of the next mining allocation cycle.
