Patna: The Bihar government has made it mandatory to obtain prior clearance from the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change before utilizing forest land for road widening projects. The move aims to ensure greater environmental accountability and legal compliance in infrastructure development across the state.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at Aranya Bhawan on Friday under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Harjot Kaur Bamhrah. It was decided that all road construction projects involving forest areas will now require joint field inspections and tree enumeration in coordination with the Road Construction Department, to be treated as a priority.
No-Objection Certificate Now Mandatory for Retail Shops Along Forest Roads
The department also emphasized that retail shop owners constructing access paths along notified protected forest roads must secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The first step involves obtaining clearance from the Road Construction Department, following which the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will issue its final NOC.
Officials highlighted that many retail shops have come up along these roads without proper permissions. A comprehensive list of such establishments has now been shared with concerned officials to facilitate the issuance of NOCs in accordance with forest regulations.
Key Officials Present in the Meeting
The meeting was attended by several senior officials including:
- Abhay Kumar, Special Secretary, Forest and Environment Department
- Surendra Singh, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (CAMPA)
- Vijay Kumar, Chief Engineer, Road Construction Department
- Sunil Kumar Suman, Chief General Manager, BSRDCL
- Anjani Kumar, Nodal Officer, RCPLWEA
The department reiterated its commitment to balancing ecological conservation with the demands of development and urged all stakeholders to strictly adhere to regulatory norms in forest areas.
