Bihar’s Mandatory Mineral Transit Passes

Context

The Bihar government has recently mandated Transit Passes (TPs) for all vehicles carrying minerals, including those from other states.

The New Rules

• Every vehicle transporting minerals within or through Bihar must now possess a Digital Transit Pass issued by the Bihar Mines and Geology Department.
• This applies to both Major Minerals (like Iron Ore, Coal) and Minor Minerals (like Sand, Stone Chips, Clay).
• Even if a truck has a valid pass from Jharkhand, it must register on Bihar’s portal and obtain a local transit permit to travel on Bihar’s roads.

Rationale behind the Rules

• Curbing Illegal Mining: By tracking the “source to destination” of every mineral load, the state aims to stop the entry of illegally excavated sand and stone.
• Revenue Leakage: The state loses thousands of crores in royalty and taxes when minerals are transported without documentation.
• Environmental Protection: Over-exploitation of riverbeds (especially for sand) leads to ecological damage. TPs help limit the quantity of minerals being moved.
• Overloading Regulation: TPs are synced with weighbridges to ensure trucks are not carrying more than the permissible limit, which protects road infrastructure.

Read: Daily Current Affairs

 Regulatory Framework: Major vs. Minor Minerals

Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) [MMDR] Act, 1957, the power to regulate is split:

• Major Minerals: Regulated by the Central Government (e.g., Coal, Iron Ore, Gold).
• Minor Minerals: The State Government has the full power to frame rules for the grant of concessions and the prevention of illegal mining (e.g., Sand, Gravel, Building Stones).
  • Bihar is exercising its powers under the Bihar Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules.
  • The Bihar government is using the “Khanij” Portal to implement the rules.

Sharing is caring!