Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government on Friday approved its first Film Promotion Policy, with a motive to provide full institutional support to movie makers in the State.

According to reports, the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Kumar, has approved the proposal for a Film Promotion Policy.

The policy aims to provide a one-stop clearance for all government permissions for filmmakers, while also ensuring adequate security and safety measures. Additionally, it offers financial incentives for regional films produced in languages such as Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, and Bajjika.

S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat), after the meeting, said that the Cabinet has approved Bihar’s new film promotion policy. He added that there is significant potential and numerous opportunities for filmmaking in Bihar. The proposal originated from the state government’s Art, Culture, and Youth Affairs department, Siddarth said.

Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, Additional Chief Secretary of the Art, Culture, and Youth Affairs Department, explained that under the new policy, filmmakers will receive assistance to make movies showcasing Bihar’s rich cultural heritage.

Bamhrah asserted that Bihar’s scenic locations and adequate infrastructure as attractions for filmmakers.

She said that the policy includes financial grants of up to Rs 4 crore for producing films, documentaries, and serials in regional languages and others.

Moreover, the policy offers various financial incentives for regional films in languages such as Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Angika, and Bajjika, she added.

The policy ensures a single-window clearance for all government permissions, as well as adequate security and safety arrangements, she further said.

Bamhrah also mentioned the setting up of an empowered committee and a film facilitation centre to streamline processes for the fraternity.

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday announced the names of its candidates for all the 16 Lok Sabha seats it is set to contest in Bihar. The former party chief Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh to contest from Munger constituency.

The 16-candidates list includes names of Dileshwar Kamait from Supaul, Ramprit Mandal from Jhanjharpur, Devesh Chandra Thakur from Sitamarhi, Lavli Anand from Shivhar, Sunil Kumar from Balmiki Nagar, Mujahid Alam from Kishanganj, Dulalchandra Goswami from Katihar, Santosh Kumar from Purnea, Chandeshwar Prasad on Jehanabad seat, Kaushalendra Kumar from Nalanda seat, Giridhari Yadav from Banka, Ajay Kumar Mandal from Bhagalpur, Alok Kumar Suman from Siwan, Alok Kumar Suman from Gopalganj, and Dinesh Chandra Yadav from Madhepura constituency among others.

Lovely Anand, another turncoat, got the ticket from JD(U) after quitting the RJD earlier this month. She will be contesting the elections from Sheohar’s seat.

Addressing a press conference, JD(U) leader Lalan Singh said that there was no issue in deciding the seat-sharing formula and the candidates among the NDA partners. There was consensus over everything.

Speaking to a reporter, the former JD(U) chief expressed his gratitude to the Bihar Chief Minister for giving him the opportunity to contest from the Munger constituency again. The work that has been done by Chief Minister Kumar is discussed not only in the village but in every house in Bihar.

The Opposition party can pick anyone as a candidate from that very constituency, Munger, adding that he said that he doesn’t have to do anything with that, nor does he want to make any comment on the same, he said.

India’s largest road bridge being constructed over the Koshi River between Bheja and Bakaur in Bihar’s Supaul district collapsed on Friday morning, resulting in the death of one person and injured nine.

According to reports, the 10.2 km bridge was being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of Rs 984 crore. Two companies namely Gammon India and Trans Rail Lighting Limited were jointly overseeing its construction.

Speaking to reporters, NHAI Regional Officer YB Singh, said that the bridge has 171 piers, and the span between piers 153 and 154 collapsed.

Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, speaking on the matter, said that an inquiry has been ordered and action will be taken against those responsible for the incident.

An accident has occurred on an under-construction bridge over the Kosi River. The portion of that bridge fell which led to the death of 1 person and 10 injured. The Deputy CM’s officials have spoken to the district officer. The deceased family will get Rs 10 lakh through related agencies, he announced. A full-fledged investigation is required to find who is the main culprit, he asserted.

Supaul District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar, speaking to media, said the injured are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. Today an unfortunate incident has happened wherein an under-construction span has collapsed, he added. As per the report, a total of 10 labourers were trapped in the incident and all were rescued. Unfortunately, one person died on the way to the hospital and the other 9 are out of danger with minor injuries. Adequate compensation for the deceased as well as injured victims is being arranged, he further added. 

Kumar said three eminent bridge experts A.K. Srivastava, Ex-ADG MORTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways), Mahesh Tandon and G.L. Verma, have reached the site to assess the reason for the accident and taken necessary remedial measures. Senior officials of NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) Anil Choudhary, Member (Projects) have rushed to the site to take immediate action on the matter, he added.