Patna: Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha on Wednesday said the mines and geology department earned Rs3,592.60 crore in the financial year 2025-26, registering an increase of Rs56.39 crore over the Rs3,536.21 crore collected in FY 2024-25.Addressing a press conference here, Sinha, who also holds the mines and geology portfolio, said the department improved its revenue performance despite major setbacks during the year. He said 78 sand ghats were surrendered, resulting in an estimated revenue loss of Rs600 crore. In addition, the department received only Rs369 crore from various work departments in 2025-26, compared to Rs511 crore in 2024-25, causing a shortfall of nearly Rs150 crore.Sinha also said the department could not receive Rs309 crore from different agencies and departments due to technical reasons during the closing hours of March 31, 2026. He said the pending amount includes Rs32 crore from Railways, Rs70 crore from the rural works department, Rs20 crore from CPWD and Rs6.5 crore from Patna Metro. He expressed confidence that once these dues are transferred in April, the department will cross its revenue target of Rs3,800 crore.He said 21 districts surpassed their revenue targets in 2025-26 and praised officials in those districts as well as department personnel for their performance.Sinha was accompanied by mines director Manesh Kumar Meena, additional secretary Bharat Bhushan Prasad and other officials.Highlighting the department’s long-term growth, Sinha said revenue collection has risen sharply over the years. From just Rs41 crore in 2001-02, it increased to Rs263 crore in 2009-10 during the first five years of the NDA regime. It then climbed to Rs1,700 crore in 2021-22 and doubled further to Rs3,536 crore in 2024-25 before reaching Rs3,592.60 crore in 2025-26.Issuing a stern warning to companies that surrendered 78 sand ghats, Sinha said they would not be allowed to participate in fresh tenders for sand mining leases in the state. He said such firms would be barred even if they attempted to bid under different names or by changing the names of the company, directors or partners. He added that fresh tenders have already been issued for auction of 12 sand ghats. According to Sinha, the companies surrendered the leases citing heavy losses, but strict monitoring of overloading and illegal mining forced them to exit.
