New Expressway Project in West Bengal Raises Environmental Concerns
Bengal e-way to impact protected forest land
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The Union environment ministry's expert appraisal committee has approved a 235-km expressway from Varanasi to Kolkata, requiring the diversion of over 103 hectares of protected forest land in West Bengal. The project poses risks to local wildlife, including 17 Schedule-I species, and will involve the construction of wildlife underpasses to mitigate human-animal conflict.
- 01The expressway will connect Varanasi and Kolkata, impacting protected forest areas.
- 02Over 103 hectares of reserved forest land will be diverted for the project.
- 03The area is home to 17 Schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
- 04NHAI plans to build 20 wildlife underpasses to facilitate animal movement.
- 05The project raises concerns about increased human-elephant conflict in the region.
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The Union environment ministry's expert appraisal committee (EAC) has approved a 235-km greenfield expressway connecting Varanasi to Kolkata, part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-II programme. This project will require the diversion of over 103 hectares of protected forest land in West Bengal, including areas that are part of a tiger landscape. The expressway will traverse several districts, including Purulia, Bankura, and Howrah, and is estimated to cost ₹9,250 crore. The project area is home to 17 Schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, raising significant ecological concerns. To mitigate wildlife impacts, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed 20 elephant-cum-wildlife underpasses, adhering to recommendations from the divisional forest officer (DFO). However, experts warn that the project could exacerbate human-elephant conflicts in the region, highlighting the need for careful environmental management strategies.
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The expressway's construction may lead to increased human-elephant conflicts, affecting local communities and wildlife. Residents in the vicinity may experience more frequent encounters with elephants as their habitats shrink.
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