Page 18 - Bihar Government

Would rather die than forming alliance with BJP, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that he would choose death over any alliance with BJP its former ally

Bihar govt seeks GST compensation extension for another five years

The Bihar government on Wednesday urged the Centre to consider extending for another five years the GST compensation awarded to states, which was discontinued last year. State Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary flagged it as one of the expectations from the upcoming Union budget. "Several other concerns were also raised by me at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's pre-budget meeting with state representatives. One of these was, of course, the long-standing demand for special category status to Bihar," Chaudhary told PTI in an interview. "Another thorny issue has been the increasing load on the states with regard to centrally sponsored schemes. Earlier, the Centre used to bear 90 per cent of the total expenditure," he said. The ratio has "changed" and, now, states are required to "bear 50 per cent of the financial burden", Chaudhary claimed. "This is not proper. After all, the Centre claims all credit for such schemes", said the JD(U) leader, whose party snapped ties wi

Bihar inks MoU with FSI for TOF field survey to promote agroforestry

To encourage tree plantation on farmland along with crops to help farmers get additional income, Bihar government in association with FSI has decided to conduct 'Trees Outside Forest' (TOF) field survey to identify the dominant tree species that are growing outside the recorded forest areas (RFA) in the state, an official said. As per the Forest Survey of India (FSI) India state of Forest Report, 2021, Bihar has registered an increase of 3.79 per cent in growing stock in RFA and 0.58 per cent in TOF respectively, the official said. "The overall tree cover has also increased in the state from 2,003 sq km in 2019 to 2,341 sq km in 2021. The FSI survey was conducted by using remote sensing based forest cover mapping of all patches of more than one hectare within and outside the RFA. Now, we want a comprehensive TOF survey based on field inspection", Ashutosh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, told PTI. He said, "Through this survey, we would be able to identify the dominant tree .

Bihar govt initiates auction process for iron ore mines worth Rs 20,000 cr

The Bihar government has initiated a process for auctioning of glauconite and iron ore reserves worth Rs 20,000 crore in Rohtas and Jamui districts and will engage SBI Capital Markets to prepare a report for the same, an official said on Saturday. The government held a meeting with several stakeholders recently to initiate the auction process, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Mines Commissioner Harjot Kaur Bamhrah said. The state government will shortly issue an order for engaging SBI Capital Markets as the transaction advisor and also to suggest terms and conditions based on which the auctions would be conducted, Bamhrah told PTI. The state government has asked SBI CAPS, the investment bank and project advisor, to submit a detailed report, she said. Once the report is submitted, the state government will initiate the process of granting permission to allow mining of glauconite and iron ore reserves worth Rs 20,000 crore, in Rohtas and Jamui districts on a lease basis, the mines ...

SC to hear PIL on Jan 20 against Bihar govt's move to conduct caste survey

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on January 20 a plea against the Bihar government's decision to conduct a caste census in the state. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha posted the matter for hearing after advocate Barun Kumar Sinha appearing for the petitioner mentioned the matter. The apex court noted that a similar matter had been posted for hearing on January 20. The top court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to restrain the authorities from conducting the caste survey in the state. The petitioner, Akhilesh Kumar, has sought quashing of the notification dated June 6, 2022 issued by the Bihar government to conduct a caste survey in the state. The plea contended that the subject of the census falls in List 1 of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution and only the Centre has the power to hold the exercise. The PIL has alleged that the notification violated Article 14 of the Constitution which provides for equality befo

No more Deputy CM, new faces likely from RJD, Congress: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar categorically ruled out the possibility of appointing another deputy, other than Tejashwi Yadav, ending speculations that a top leader of his JD(U) was being considered for the job. New faces may, however, be inducted in the council of ministers from the allies RJD and the Congress, he told reporters during his visit to Madhubani on Wednesday as part of his 'Samadhan Yatra'. "We are a seven-party coalition and each constituent has a fixed share. Those whose ministers vacated posts may be accommodated accordingly. We may have some more from the Congress as well," Kumar said. Two ministers from the RJD quota - Sudhakar Singh and Kartik Kumar resigned within a couple of months of the formation of the Grand Alliance government in August last year. Moreover, the Congress, which has been given two berths, has been seeking a representation commensurate with its numerical strength in the assembly. The Congress has 19 MLAs in the 243-strong assembly. The R

SC agrees to examine plea challenging caste census by Bihar govt on Friday

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a plea seeking quashing the Bihar government's decision to conduct a caste survey in the state, on Friday

Trying to set up one engineering, medical college in all districts: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the 'Mahagathbandhan' government is trying to set up at least one medical college and hospital in every district and "working tirelessly" to augment health infrastructure so that people do not have to go outside the state for better treatment. Efforts are also underway to ensure that each district gets at least one engineering college, he said. While interacting with media persons during his 'Samadhan Yatra' in Saran district, the CM said, To ensure that the people get the best medical facilities, the government is working tirelessly to augment health infrastructure in the state. "Efforts are being made to boost the sector so that the people need not go outside the state for treatment. We are planning to have at least one medical college and hospital in every district to make sure that medical education and facilities remain in reach of everyone," he said. The government's aim is that the boys and girls of Bihar do not need to go ...

Caste-based head count begins in Bihar; Tejashwi terms it 'historic step'

Terming the caste-based head count that began in Bihar on Saturday as a 'historic' step, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said the exercise will provide scientific data for carrying out welfare schemes for weaker sections of the society. Noting that all the parties of the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' were in favour of the exercise, the RJD leader claimed that the BJP was "critical" about the survey. "The enumeration exercise began in Bihar from today. It is a historic step taken by the Mahagathbandhan' government in the state. Once the exercise is completed, it will provide scientific data to the state government for carrying out developmental work for people, including those who are deprived," Yadav said, while speaking to media persons here. He also said, "The BJP is an anti-poor party which always opposed this exercise and has always been critical about the caste-based head out." Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Friday said that the caste-based enumeration exercise could be ..

RJD MLA's remark against Bihar CM unacceptable, says Tejashwi Yadav

Taking strong exception to RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh's objectionable remarks against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, party leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said the comment was "unacceptable" and tantamount to supporting the BJP. The matter has been brought to the notice of RJD president Lalu Prasad, Yadav said. Interacting with reporters on Monday, Singh, the former agriculture minister, compared Kumar to Shikhandi -- a eunuch character in Mahabharata -- and said he has no standing of his own. "Making such comments against the person who is leading the Grand Alliance government in Bihar is simply supporting the BJP and its policies. Whatever he has said about the CM is highly objectionable," Yadav told reporters on Tuesday. When asked whether the party would take disciplinary action against Singh, he said, "The matter is serious. That is why it has been brought to the notice of the party supremo." Party leaders are advised to desist from making such statements, Yadav said. Si

Paswan meets Shah, seeks ousting of Bihar govt amid worsening law situation

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president and Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan met Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and sought dismissal of the Bihar government, alleging that the rule of law has collapsed in the state. Paswan submitted his party's memorandum to Shah in which he alleged that liquor mafia is flourishing in Bihar under the official patronage, with people in large numbers dying by consuming spurious alcoholic drinks in the state where prohibition is in place. "It will not be wrong to say that the rule of law has ended in Bihar," he said. He shared the letter submitted to Shah on Twitter. Land and mining mafia are getting protection from the state government, he alleged, adding that criminals are ruling the roost. President's rule should be imposed in the state, Paswan, a strong critic of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said. Paswan had walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before the state assembly polls in 2020 due to his opposition to Kumar. With K

Nitish Kumar needs glue that holds a divided Opposition together in Bihar

He has got the backing of his party to push ahead with Opposition unity. But that may not be enough

Nitish govt draws flak over refusal to compensate victims of hooch tragedy

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Saturday drew flak, from adversaries as well as allies, over its adamant refusal to give compensation to family members of those who have died in the Saran hooch tragedy. The administration has confirmed only 30 deaths since Tuesday night, following suspected consumption of spurious liquor, making it the biggest hooch tragedy in the state since it went dry over six years ago. However, the opposition BJP has claimed, inside the state assembly as well as in a memorandum submitted to Governor Phagu Chauhan that the number of deaths was "more than 100", a view echoed by Chirag Paswan, an NDA sympathizer and strident critic of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "I visited Saran today to meet the bereaved family members and was appalled to learn that the administration was putting pressure on them not to report deaths caused by hooch or attribute these to other causes so that the magnitude of the tragedy is downplayed. I am told that the number of those w

Bihar to construct Jarasandha memorial in Rajgir, says CM Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday announced that his government will construct a memorial of Magadha king Jarasandha in the ancient town of Rajgir in Nalanda district. He alleged that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was not properly maintaining the protected site of 'Jarasandha ka akhara' (battleground of Jarasandha). Speaking at the inauguration of the Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) in Rajgir, he said, "The state government has decided to construct a memorial of Jarasandha on its own land in Rajgir town. This will be close to 'Jarasandha ka akhara', which is not being properly maintained by the ASI. I have asked them several times in the past to hand over the site to the state government for better maintenance." "Since the ASI is not willing to hand over the protected site to the Bihar government, we have decided to construct a memorial close to it," the CM said. As per archaeologists, Rajgir was Jarasandha's capital. In Mahabharata, it is mentioned that this

BJP accuses Nitish Kumar of cultural policing; Bihar govt hits back

The Bihar BJP Saturday accused the Nitish Kumar government of "cultural policing" by preventing those opposed to its political ideology from performing on the stage in the state. State BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand in a statement claimed that Anamika Jain Amber, a poet from Uttar Pradesh, was "stopped" from reciting her verses at the famed Sonepur Mela. The charge was refuted by the state Art and Culture Minister Jitendra Kumar Rai, who pointed out that Amber's name had never figured among those scheduled to present cultural programs at the fair. The controversy erupted after Amber, known for her hagiographies of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, posted a video on social media alleging that her permission to recite poetry was "withdrawn at the eleventh hour by the administration". "I am so sad at having been deprived of a chance to perform in the land of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar," she said. Amber claimed that she had shot a video of herself speaking on the denial of permissi

Back to 'Jungle Raj': Bihar's crime graph soars, Oppn corners JD(U)-RJD

Rising incidents of murder in Bihar have given an issue to the opposition parties to target the Nitish Kumar led Mahagathbandhan government

Bihar CM will be gheraoed if he fails to deliver on job promise: Kishor

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be gheraoed if the JD(U) chief fails to fulfil his promise of providing "10 lakh government jobs" to youths of the state, political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor has said. Talking to reporters in Makhania village in East Champaran district, Kishor dared the CM to honour his assurance that he gave to the youths, after formation of the 'Mahagathbandhan' government in August. "The CM, during his Independence Day speech at Gandhi Maidan, had claimed that the grand alliance government aimed at providing jobs to 10 lakh people in the government sector. "Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav had also said that his RJD, as part of the new regime, would deliver on the promise. I, along with the youths of Bihar, will gherao Kumar if he fails on this front," Kishor said on Saturday. Kumar had in August also asserted that the new government would like to exceed the employment generation target. "We are together and have this concept of 10 lak

Bihar to increase women representation in state police to 35%: Nitish Kumar

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said the Bihar government will soon increase the representation of women in the state police force to 35 per cent. Kumar said at present the representation of women in Bihar Police is around 27-28 per cent. "The representation of women in state police is almost 28 per cent in Bihar. The increased presence of women in the state's police force has not only empowered women but also made the constabulary more efficient and effective. Now, the state government will increase their (women) representation to 35 per cent", Kumar said during an event organised by the state Home department to distribute appointment letters to 10,459 new recruits of Bihar Police. The chief minister said the overall appointment process in police force need to be accelerated. He said against the target of 1.5 lakh recruitments, only 1.08 lakh appointments have been made in Bihar Police. The CM asked the Home department officials to work fast in the direction of deploying

Nitish Kumar gave appointment letters to officials already posted: BJP

Samrat Choudhary alleged that while 11,329 panchayat secretaries were recruited, only 3,500 were given appointment letters

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