Bhojpur erects bridge barrier to halt sand mining boats

21 Nov 2023 CW Team

After attempting for years to curb illegal sand mining, authorities in Bihar's Bhojpur district have devised a novel approach. They have constructed pillars in the Sone river on both sides of the Arrah-Sahar bridge to prevent boats from transporting illegally mined sand between Bhojpur and Patna, and vice versa.

The districts of Bhojpur and Patna have registered the highest number of cases related to illegal sand mining in Bihar. The annual losses to the state exchequer are estimated to be around Rs 70 billion. According to officials, boats play a significant role in transporting illegally mined sand. The pillars erected in the Sone river effectively obstruct even small boats from passing under the bridge on either side. The construction of these pillars took place over the past three to four months.

The issue of sand mining in Bihar gained recent attention when, during a raid in Jamui district, a tractor carrying sand fatally struck a police sub-inspector. Bhojpur, in particular, has been closely scrutinised by the police and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT has imposed a ban on sand mining in Bihar for a specified period each year since 2017.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..