Continuing further, at the year end the Bihar Assembly passed the Lokayukta Bill, 2011 with voice vote. The purpose of Lokayukta was the constitution of a strong and effective watchdog in the state bringing within its ambit the office of the chief minister, ministers and officials down to the lowest rung.
Another news stealer was the Bihar Governor Devanand Konwar's decision to appoint vice chancellors in different universities was under legal scanner with the state government's charging Raj Bhavan with not consulting it on the issue. The cases are pending with the Patna High Court and the Supreme Court. The government of Bihar had also questioned Devanand Konwar's role as Chancellor and criticised the Raj Bhavan for withholding several bills on higher education passed by the legislature.
The state's Plan size for 2010-11 was further increased to Rs 24,000 crore, 20 per cent more than the corresponding period last year. In August 15, the Right to Service Act implemented to ensure corruption-free delivery of public utility services. In the month of November Nitish kicked off his seva yatras across Bihar visiting villages and district headquarters for two to three days to create awareness among people.
The year 2011 also witnessed Bihar government's spat with the Centre over packages and it alleged inordinate delay by the Union government in conceding to its special status demand.The Centre's restrictions on manufacture of ethanol by sugarcane juice too became a bone of contention. Nitish accused the Centre of creating hurdles in the state's roadmap for industrial development.
In the year 2011 three proposed Central Universities, namely Nalanda University, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Special Campus in Kishanganj and Central University at Motihari witnessed spat between the Bihar Government and Central Government. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam who was the brain child behind Nalanda University in Bihar dissociated himself from the proposal due to irregularities and appointment of Vice Chancellor.
The AMU Study Centre in Kishanganj also became a part of controversy and a political issue as well due to delay in land transfer to the AMU authorities. After the active participation of non-political groups like Kishanganj Education Movement (KEM) and AMU Cooridnation Committee (AMUCC) the Bihar government agreed upon providing 224.02 acres contiguous land to AMU administration for establishment of a mega campus. However, still the proposal of Central University in Motihari is in soup due to differences b/w State and Centre.
The year saw merger of three of its four MLAs of Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP and his MLCs with the JD-U. The JD-U also took action against its rebel MPs suspending its former state president and Lok Sabha member Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan, Jhanjharpur MP Mangani Lal Mandal, Aurangabad MP Sushil Kumar Singh and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha for alleged anti-party activities during the Assembly polls.
Nitish visited Bhutan and China during the year seeking investments in power and agriculture sectors. The year also saw disease like Japanese encephalitis claiming over 75 lives in Muzaffarpur and Gaya districts.
The state government faced Opposition's ire for alleged irregularities in allotment of plots by Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), and non-reconciliation of Abstract Contingents Bill/ Details Contingents Bills.
Besides these, the state and its people have witnessed happy and gloomy moments in the year 2011. The year 2012 is just round the corner and unlike the 40 crore residents of Bihar, KishanganjBihar.com too expects a happy and prosperous New Year 2012.
