📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / T. R. Shankar Raman
Local
Bihar Forest Department to Supervise Highway Construction and Forest Clearance
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 10:01 AM
👁 12
The Bihar forest department has taken charge of overseeing highway work and the associated forest clearance, marking a new role for the agency in infrastructure projects.
The Forest Department of Bihar announced that it will now supervise the execution of highway projects within the state, including the critical task of granting forest clearances. This move aims to streamline coordination between infrastructure development and environmental regulations, ensuring that construction proceeds without unnecessary delays while adhering to legal safeguards for forested areas.
Officials said the department will appoint dedicated officers to monitor each phase of the highway work, from land acquisition to post‑construction monitoring of ecological impact. By centralising clearance authority, the department hopes to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that have previously slowed down road projects.
The decision comes amid growing pressure to improve connectivity across Bihar, especially in rural regions where better roads are seen as essential for economic growth. While the department emphasized its commitment to environmental compliance, it also highlighted the need for timely infrastructure to support trade and mobility.
Stakeholders, including contractors and local communities, have been briefed on the new protocol. The forest department assures that any required tree felling will follow the state's afforestation guidelines, with compensatory planting measures planned where necessary.
The initiative reflects a broader trend of state agencies taking integrated roles in development projects, balancing growth objectives with ecological responsibility.
Officials said the department will appoint dedicated officers to monitor each phase of the highway work, from land acquisition to post‑construction monitoring of ecological impact. By centralising clearance authority, the department hopes to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that have previously slowed down road projects.
The decision comes amid growing pressure to improve connectivity across Bihar, especially in rural regions where better roads are seen as essential for economic growth. While the department emphasized its commitment to environmental compliance, it also highlighted the need for timely infrastructure to support trade and mobility.
Stakeholders, including contractors and local communities, have been briefed on the new protocol. The forest department assures that any required tree felling will follow the state's afforestation guidelines, with compensatory planting measures planned where necessary.
The initiative reflects a broader trend of state agencies taking integrated roles in development projects, balancing growth objectives with ecological responsibility.