Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Development and Housing Vijay Kumar Sinha said on Sunday that the active land mafia in the state will be accounted for by March. Addressing a workshop on the topic "Stakeholder Consultation on Town Planning Scheme" here, Mr. Sinha said that land mafia has emerged as a new and serious challenge in the way of urban development in Bihar. He said that as the Minister for Revenue and Land Reforms, he has got the opportunity to see and understand this problem closely.

He said that in the state, most of the disputes are related to land, where people are ready to shed the blood of their own brother for an inch of land. To control this situation, circle guards have been deployed in all circles. In straightforward words, he said that the active land mafia across the state will be accounted for by next March.

Mr. Sinha informed that the department has started action through land reforms and public welfare dialogue at the commissioner level to deal with this issue. Currently, the department's top priority is to measure the land and correct the records and margins. He warned that strict action will be taken against those who create obstacles in this campaign.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that currently, three types of mafia are active in Bihar - first land mafia, second sand mafia, and third liquor mafia. The sand mafia has been controlled, and now it is the turn of the land mafia, which will be treated by March. He said that action is being taken against the liquor mafia by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Samrat Choudhary.

Mr. Sinha said that people move to cities in search of employment and a better lifestyle. Today, about 36 percent of the country's population lives in urban areas, while in Bihar, this rate is only 16.6 percent, which is a matter of concern. The new government has decided to develop 11 new townships in the state in its first cabinet meeting, which includes nine divisional headquarters, besides Sonpur and Sitamarhi. He said that Bihar will be developed as the tech hub of East India, and for this, semi-conductor units will be set up along the defense corridor.

Mr. Sinha said that the pace of urbanization is being accelerated in Bihar. Earlier, people used to move to cities to escape murder and loot, but now the basic infrastructure has developed to a great extent in rural areas. People are not migrating due to issues like education, health, and law and order. He emphasized that cities can only prosper when villages are also developed. With this objective, health and education facilities are being further improved in rural areas.

In the workshop, Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department, Vinay Kumar, welcomed the guests and said that in the last 20 years, Bihar has developed at a rapid pace, but the pace of development in urban areas is still not satisfactory. He highlighted the Bihar Town Planning Policy 2025 and said that the building by-laws will be simplified. Now, instead of imprisonment for violating the by-laws, a fine will be imposed.

On this occasion, Patna Mayor Sita Sahu, Principal Secretary Vinay Kumar, Secretary Sandeep Kumar Pudalkatti, Patna's Divisional Commissioner Animesh Parashar, and several senior officers of the department were present.