India

Bihar Forest Department Issues Tender for Tourism Development Inside Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary

By Jay Mazoomdaar

A month after proposing a memorandum of understanding to clear forest for a highway widening, the Bihar Forest Department issued a tender on October 16 for the construction of tourism facilities on 12.9 acres inside Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary. The proposed development, managed by the Bihar Eco Tourism Development Society (BETDS), includes a helipad, 104 cottages, 12 tree‑houses, a restaurant and café, a spa, viewing decks, shops, banquet facilities and an auditorium for weddings, functions and conferences. Buildings may be two or three storeys high. The project is estimated to cost Rs 62.87 crore and will be operated under a 60‑year concession. Bids close on November 30.

The tender follows a memorandum of understanding signed on September 26 between the Forest Department and the state Road Construction Department to facilitate forest clearance for a highway widening project. The MoU was cancelled earlier this month amid conflict‑of‑interest concerns.

Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, works necessary for sanctuary purposes are allowed, but construction of tourist lodges, hotels or safari parks for commercial use requires prior approval from the National Board for Wildlife. In February 2023 the Supreme Court restrained authorities from undertaking construction within tiger reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries until further orders, and later allowed certain maintenance works while warning against unnecessary construction.

BETDS project director and chief conservator of forests Nesamani K said the project covers 6.3 acres of tourism department land and 6.6 acres of other government land. “We can start construction in areas that may not require clearances. Where we need permissions, we will wait until papers are processed,” he explained. He added that land ownership does not exempt a site within a notified sanctuary from restrictions under the Act.

The tender contains conflicting provisions on responsibility for statutory green clearances. Article 4.1.2(b) places responsibility on BETDS to obtain permits related to environmental protection and conservation, while Schedule E requires the private developer to obtain applicable environmental, forest and wildlife clearances at its own cost. Nesamani said, “We may hand over some land along with necessary permissions. The developer will have to get the clearances for the rest of the project area.”

The four sites proposed for tourism development are Bhimbandh (stay, hospitality and helipad), Belatand (adventure and nature activities), Chormara (Yog Gram, wellness, farming and artisan experiences) and Bhatta Kol (safari, waterfalls and nature trails). The tender allows the developer to propose additional commercial components, such as accommodation, glamping, entertainment and convention spaces, subject to approvals.

Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers roughly 682 square kilometres across Munger, Jamui and Lakhisarai districts in Bihar’s Kharagpur Hills, is known for its natural hot springs and hosts diverse fauna including leopard, sloth bear, hyena, wolf, large Indian civet and barking deer.