Bihar Forest Department Road MoU

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Signed on September 26, 2026, between the Bihar Forest Department and the Road Construction Department (RCD) for the widening of a 10.5-kilometer stretch of National Highway 333.

• Project Details:

  • The project involves upgrading a single-lane road to a two-lane carriageway through the Gangata forest in Munger district.
  • The revised project cost is ₹51 crore.

• Forest Clearance:

  • The project requires 2.1 hectares of forest land from the Bhimband Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Forest clearance application was sought in April 2023; wildlife clearance is pending as of February 2024.
  • The current status of forest clearance is “Pending at State” on the Environment Ministry’s Parivesh portal.

• Roles & Responsibilities:

  • The MoU assigns the forest department a dual role of facilitating the road project while securing required forest clearances, raising concerns about potential conflict of interest.
  • Clause 4.2 mandates the forest department to cooperate in obtaining necessary approvals while Clause 4.3 requires the availability of forest land for the project.
  • The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Munger will act as the Drawing and Disbursing Officer, overseeing financial aspects related to the project.

• Execution and Oversight:

  • The RCD retains overall engineering, procurement, and tendering processes, while forest personnel will assist in construction supervision.

• Objectives of the Project: Enhanced connectivity, improved road safety, and better traffic movement along NH-333.

• Legal and Ethical Concerns:

  • HoFF Arvinder Singh indicated that the MoU might be withdrawn, hinting at potential issues regarding the forest department's accountability in performing both project delivery and clearance scrutiny.

This agreement showcases the intersection of infrastructure development and environmental conservation, with significant implications for forest governance and regulatory compliance in Bihar.