Patna: Bihar’s Mines and Geology Minister Pramod Kumar has directed departmental officials not to impose penalties on farmers who remove soil from their own fields for personal agricultural or domestic purposes, saying every case should be properly investigated before any action is taken.
The minister issued the instructions while chairing a departmental review meeting attended by Assistant Directors and Mining Development Officers (MDOs). The meeting was also attended by Revenue and Land Reforms Secretary-cum-Mines Commissioner Avaneesh Kumar Singh and Mines Director Manesh Kumar Meena.
Minister Raises Concerns Over Complaints From Farmers
Pramod Kumar said he had received numerous complaints alleging that farmers were being fined for removing soil from their own land for agricultural activities or household use.
He instructed mining officials not to impose penalties without first conducting a thorough inquiry.
The minister said action should instead focus on those involved in illegal mining, adding that genuine farmers should not face unnecessary harassment.
Questions Raised Over FIR Against Brick Kiln
The minister also referred to a case in which an FIR was reportedly lodged against a brick kiln following instructions from a police sub-inspector.
He questioned how mining officials could register a case solely on another authority’s directions without conducting an independent inquiry.
According to Kumar, the FIR reportedly did not even mention the name of the brick kiln owner but instead referred to another individual.
He said mining inspectors have the authority to investigate such matters and should verify facts before initiating legal proceedings.
Revenue Target Of Rs 5,000 Crore
The minister reminded officials that the department has set a revenue collection target of Rs 5,000 crore for the current financial year.
He said districts such as Patna, Aurangabad, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Arwal account for a significant share of mining revenue, making their performance crucial to achieving the overall target.
He also instructed officials to maintain communication with elected representatives, including MPs, MLAs, MLCs and district board chairpersons.
If officials are unable to answer their calls immediately, they should return them later, he said, adding that timely communication could help address public grievances more effectively.
Secretary Expresses Concern Over Department’s Performance
During the review meeting, Avaneesh Kumar Singh expressed dissatisfaction over several aspects of the department’s functioning.
He cited delays in the settlement of sand ghats, revenue shortfalls, delayed registration of FIRs and inadequate vehicle confiscation as areas requiring immediate improvement.
The secretary directed officials to improve their performance before the next review meeting and instructed newly appointed Mining Development Officers to familiarise themselves with departmental procedures and the Bihar Mining Rules.
Warning Of Disciplinary Action
Singh warned that officials who consistently fail to meet revenue collection targets could face disciplinary action.
He said district reports must be submitted by the 7th of every month, warning that failure to do so could result in salary being withheld for up to three months.
According to the secretary, Mining Development Officers who fail to meet revenue targets for two consecutive years may face suspension and could be demoted to the rank of Mining Inspector.
He also directed that departmental proceedings be initiated against mining inspectors who delay lodging FIRs.
Focus On Commercial Extraction
The secretary clarified that, in the case of brick kilns, FIRs should generally be registered only against habitual offenders.
In other cases, officials should first issue notices, raise royalty demands and seek compliance before initiating criminal proceedings.
He also instructed officials to recover royalty where soil is commercially used for the construction of malls, schools, hospitals and market complexes.
Mining Development Officers were further directed to conduct field inspections at least once or twice a week.
Inspections, Training And Proposed OTS Scheme
Singh announced that teams from the department’s headquarters would inspect district mining offices to review their functioning.
He said departmental training would also be strengthened to familiarise officials with legal procedures, retirement benefits, compassionate appointments and other administrative processes.
The secretary further revealed that the department is considering introducing a One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme for brick kilns with pending dues, subject to Cabinet approval.
Under the proposed scheme, eligible brick kiln operators would be required to pay the principal amount due, while the interest component would be waived.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the minister presented citations to departmental officials Anand Kishore and Sachin Kishore in recognition of their performance.
