Nitish Kumar’s Bihar Government Approves 22 Key Agendas in Council of Ministers Meeting

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Government in Bihar decided a total of 22 (twenty-two) agendas in the Council of Ministers meeting held today. In this context, after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat Department, Dr. S. Siddharth, while addressing the press in the meeting hall on the first floor of the Information Bhawan, first of all informed that under the Energy Department, under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, for electrification of 21644 houses of 177 settlements (132 villages) of Kaimur and Rohtas districts from the grid under the State's South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited, the total proposed amount of Rs. 117.80 crore (one hundred seventeen crore eighty lakh) has been approved and implemented by the Government of India under the 60:40 financial support of Rs. 117.80 crore (one hundred seventeen crore eighty lakh) in which 60% i.e. Rs. 70.68 crore (seventy crore sixty eight lakh) has been given as grant from the Central Government and the remaining amount of Rs. 47.12 crore (forty seven crore twelve lakh) has been given by the State Government as share capital to South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited. Approval was given to provide it in equity form.

Under the Mines and Geology Department, Bihar Minerals (Subsidy, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) (Amendment) Rules, 2024 was approved.

Because of the legal requirements of the use of audio-visual electronic means described in the provisions of the newly enacted three criminal laws under the Home Department, administrative approval was given for a total cost of ₹ 190,63,20,000 (one hundred ninety crore sixty-three lakh twenty thousand rupees) to provide laptops and smartphones to all the investigators of Bihar Police on a reimbursement basis. For this, Rs 60000 / - will be reimbursed for the laptop and Rs 20000 / - for smartphone.

For the uninterrupted operation, proper maintenance and monitoring of Bapu Tower, Patna under the Building Construction Department, approval was given for the creation of a total of 20 necessary posts including the formation of the office of Director (Museum), Bapu Tower, Patna at an estimated annual expenditure of only ₹1,63,51,104/- (one crore sixty-three lacks fifty-one thousand one hundred four rupees) in the non-plan head.

Under the Water Resources Department, administrative and expenditure approval was given for the construction work of the Nikrish Pump Canal Scheme on Karmanasha River, revised estimated amount of Rs. 8994.46 lahks (eighty-nine crore ninety-four lakh forty-six thousand rupees).

Administrative and expenditure approval was given for the third revised estimated amount of Rs. 270.3147 crore (two hundred seventy crore thirty-one lakh forty-seven thousand rupees) for the construction work of Kundghat Reservoir Scheme under the same Water Resources Department.

Under the Water Resources Department, under Demand No. 49, under the Main Head-4700-Capital Outlay on Main Irrigation, Sub Main Head-80-General, Minor Head-051-Construction, Sub Head-0208-Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (North Koel Reservoir Project) Bill Code-49-4700800510208, approval was given to receive an advance of Rs. 49.8198 crore (Forty Nine Crore Eighty One Lakh Ninety Eight Thousand Rupees) only from Bihar Contingency Fund.

Under the Water Resources Department itself, the work of preparing executive detailed plan report including survey and exploration work under Phase-2 under the Kosi-Mechi inter-state link project, whose estimated amount was Rs. 14,16,31,000/- (Fourteen Crore Sixteen Lakh Thirty One Thousand Rupees) only was approved for administrative and expenditure.

Under the Health Department, Dr. Janardan Prasad Sukumar, the then Regional Additional Director, Health Services, Patna Division, Patna, on the charge of consuming alcohol while performing his duties in a government program and unauthorizedly giving shelter to a non-woman in his reserved room, was repealed and the penalty of dismissal from government service imposed and notified by departmental resolution number-852 (9) dated-28. 10.2022 was approved to be reinstated in service.

Under the Health Department itself, Dr. Nadra Fatma, Medical Officer, Sadar Hospital, Banka was approved to be dismissed from government service on the charge of continuous unauthorized absence from 14.07.2016.

Under the Health Department itself, approval was given to formulate Bihar Pharmacist Cadre (Amendment) Rules, 2024 for appointment to the basic category posts of Bihar Pharmacist Cadre and determination of their service conditions.

Public Health Engineering Department Regional Work Inspector Cadre (Recruitment and Service Conditions) Rules, 2024 were approved for systematic management, appointment and regulation of service conditions of the personnel of the Work Inspector Cadre under the Public Health Engineering Department.

Approval was given to create a total of 43 (forty-three) posts for the establishment of Industrial Training Institute, Mokama under the Scheme of Establishment of New Industrial Training Institute under the Labor Resources Department in the financial year 2024-25 and approval was given for expenditure of Rs. 125.00 lakh (one crore twenty-five lakh) in the financial year 2024-25 and Rs. 239.51 lakh (two crore forty nine lakh fifty-one thousand) per year from the financial year 2025-26.

Under the General Administration Department, in the financial year 2024-25, Bihar Election Authority, Patna approved an advance of ₹ 18,64,03,000/- (eighteen crore sixty four lakh three thousand rupees) from the Bihar Contingency Fund for conducting elections of most of the PACS in the state.

Under the General Administration Department itself, in the financial year 2024-25, the Bihar Technical Service Commission, Patna has approved an advance of ₹ 6,00,00,000/- (six crore rupees) from the Bihar Contingency Fund for conducting competitive examinations.

Approval was given to amend Regulation-8 of Bihar Public Service Commission (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 1960, amending the provision of giving special pay of Rs. 200/- per month to the senior-most member during the period of holding charge of administrative duties in the absence of the Chairman of Bihar Public Service Commission, while approving the provision of special pay of Rs. 15,000/- per month.

Approval was given for the creation and reorganization of posts of Group- 'A' and 'B' under Bihar Agricultural Service, Category-3 (Chemistry) under the Agriculture Department.

Approval was given for the creation and reorganization of posts of Group 'A' and 'B' under Bihar Agricultural Service, Category-5 (Plant Protection) under the Agriculture Department.

Approval was given for the creation, transfer and conversion of posts of Group 'A' and 'B' under Bihar Agriculture Service, Category-2 (Agricultural Engineering) under the Agriculture Department itself.

Approval was given for the conversion of posts of Group-'A' and 'B' under Bihar Agriculture Service, Category-1 (Cultivation) under the Agriculture Department itself.

Approval was given for the creation of one post of District and Additional Sessions Judge for the establishment of District and Additional Sessions Judge Court in Biraul Sub-Divisional Civil Court under Darbhanga Judiciary under the General Administration Department itself.

Approval was given for the conversion of posts in the Senior Category and High Pay Scale based on the approved cadre strength of Bihar Higher Judicial Service (District Judge Category) under the General Administration Department itself.