Bihar Forest Department Soon to Introduce New Act to Ease Saw Mill Regulations

Patna: A consultative meeting with licensed saw mill owners was held on Tuesday at Sanjay Auditorium, Aranya Bhawan here, under the chairmanship of Bihar’s Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister, Dr. Prem Kumar. Senior officials and saw mill owners from various districts participated in discussions on licensing issues and operational challenges.

During the meeting, saw mill owners highlighted key concerns, including delays in site change approvals despite government decisions, restrictions on capacity expansion, and alleged police harassment in the transport of exempted wood species. They requested that the list of 27 exempted species be circulated to all district police chiefs and that additional species, such as sheesham, teak, jackfruit, and mahogany, be added to the exemption list.

Concerns were also raised about transport permits, with mill owners citing difficulties in obtaining permits for wood species exempt in other states but not in Bihar. They also objected to the restriction on saw mills operating within 10 km of protected forests, arguing that it threatened their livelihoods. Additionally, calls were made to shut down illegal saw mills, simplify stock reporting, and prioritize saw mill owners in government wood auctions.

Responding to these concerns, Minister Prem Kumar announced that the number of licensed saw mills in Bihar had increased to 3,200, with 2,720 names included in a recently published priority list. A provisional list for those who applied before October 29, 2002 but were not granted licenses will soon be published in newspapers. He also stated that the government plans to distribute licenses to selected saw mill operators in February-March 2025, possibly in a ceremony led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Dr. Kumar further revealed that a new act is being drafted to replace the existing legislation, aiming to simplify complex provisions, introduce regulations for saw mill sales, and address industry concerns. To facilitate ongoing dialogue, an 11-member committee will be formed, comprising representatives from each commissionerate and other nominated members, to convey industry challenges and propose solutions.