Rohtas district magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar expressed displeasure over the failure of police and officials of mining, transport and commercial taxes departments to curb illegal mining and sand-lifting in the district.

On December 30, Parashar, during a review meeting with senior officials of different departments, found that illegal mining and sand-lifting was going on unhindered in the district in violation of the government order. Since 2013, the state government has not renewed licences of stone quarrying units operating in the district and also issued directives asking officials to demolish the units found running in violation of the government directive.

After the review meeting, the district magistrate directed the officials concerned to check illegal trade at all costs. The DM's directive assumes significance in the wake of chief minister Nitish Kumar's order to wage a war against stone quarrying mafia.

Nitish, during his visit to Rohtas as part of his Nishchay Yatra in December, had warned people involved in illegal mining of stern action. "Those defying the ban will not be spared," Nitish had told a public gathering.

Parashar said: "I am shocked at the way officials are trying to stop the illegal trade. I have come to know that hundreds of vehicles loaded with stone chips and sand cross the old Grand Trunk Road between 9pm and 6am every day."

In January last year, Parashar had announced setting up check posts at Suara Mor under Dehri town police station, Sasaram post office chowk under the jurisdiction of Sasaram Muffasil police station and Jamuar base camp to intercept trucks carrying stone chips and sand.

The district magistrate had also published the names of the police officers assigned to man the checkposts. While Suara Mor and Sasaram post office checkposts were to be manned by four officers and 16 constables each, the Jamuar base camp was to be manned by 10 officials and 40 constables.

The district magistrate also expressed surprise for not removing transport department officials against whom complaints of alleged irregularities were received earlier. Taking a note of the matter, Parashar directed the district transport officer to relieve tainted officials immediately.

Apparently unhappy over commercial taxes department's low revenue collection in the district, the DM directed the officials concerned to increase the revenue to meet the target. In addition, the district magistrate has sought reports from circle officers and station house officers of all police stations on action taken against overloaded vehicles.