Once upon a time in mines office

The state mines and geology department office in the new secretariat used to be abuzz with activities till the inception of Jharkhand. Now, hardly anyone visits it. More so, after stone chips mining was banned in Bihar.ill the state was bifurcated, several people used to visit the department’s office. “Mining contractors used to wait for hours to meet the sahibs,” said a Grade IV employee. In sharp contrast, it sports a desolate look on most of the days. “This department should be named department of sand because that can only be mined in the state now,” said an official. Located next to the corporate-like education department, the mines and geology department looks like a dilapidated office. “This will continue unless gold or any other mineral is found in the state,” said another employee. Right now, an oil exploration is going on in Purnea. But there is not much hope. The previous exploration failed to spot anything worthwhile there.

Baba slips again

ational spokesperson of the JD(U), Shivanand Tiwari, has once again become the subject of discussion in the political circles after he issued a statement virtually supporting a controversial remark of Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde against Sangh parivar. Chief minister Nitish Kumar issued a statement virtually chiding Shinde for making such a statement. Earlier, JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav had pulled up Tiwari for making statements which could have adverse impact on the BJP-JD(U) alliance. A BJP minister said: “The episode has two meanings. First, Baba is apprehensive that he might not be sent to Rajya Sabha again because his son has joined the RJD. Second, it is a strong indication that the BJP-JD(U) alliance will survive. We have to thank Baba (Shivanand) because his statements help to dispel the perception that the alliance would break.”

Vote heat

eneral elections are far away but Patna on Thursday looked like as if a poll process was going on in the city. Posters, banners and flags of virtually every party were dangling on account of the birth anniversary of late Karpoori Thakur, indicating a scramble for Extreme Backward Classes’ votes. Chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad have also started talking about the parliamentary polls. Lalu vowed to defeat Nitish in the Lok Sabha polls at a recent party meet. Nitish shot back, saying two politicians of Bihar (read Lalu and Ram Vilas Paswan) were blind and could not see the development taking place in the state. “It’s too early to speak about the Lok Sabha polls. Perhaps, the two political foes are exercising their vocal cords for the future,” said a former Congress minister.

Long wait for transfer

olice officials are anxious these days because apparently a major shuffle is on the cards. The departmental promotion committee met on Thursday but could not take a final decision. “We in the police headquarters keep getting calls from the districts about the transfers. Everybody wants to know who will go where and who will be promoted. The sad part is I am in the dark as well. Only the chief minister knows,” said a senior IPS officer, stressing that the officers should actually call 1 Aney Marg to know their fate.