Highway Expansion in Mahottari Will Cut 6,027 Trees

A total of 6,027 trees will be cut in Mahottari district for the expansion of the East–West Highway.

According to Rajesh Kumar Das, the head of the Kamala–Dhalkevar–Pathlaiya road eastern section project, the decision was made after completing all official procedures through the Division Forest Office, the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation, and the Ministry of Forest and Environment. The process had been delayed for a long time because of different problems and challenges.

He said the project has received permission to cut 11,577 trees in total across three districts: Mahottari, Dhanusha, and Sarlahi. Out of this, 3,674 trees will be cut in Sarlahi and 1,876 in Dhanusha.

Most of the trees to be removed are sal trees, which are common in the area.

According to Das, the highway expansion will include a six-lane road with 31 meters width in urban and market areas, and a four-lane road with 18 meters width in other places.

He added that shifting electricity poles and managing drinking water pipelines are major challenges for the project.

Tree cutting work has already started in Dhanusha and Sarlahi, and will begin soon in Mahottari as well.