6,000 trees to be felled for East–West Highway expansion

MAHOTTARI: A total of 6,027 trees are set to be felled in Mahottari district as part of the East–West Highway expansion project.

According to Rajesh Kumar Das, Chief of the Kamala–Dhalkebar–Pathlaiya Road Eastern Section Project, the Ministry of Forest and Environment has issued the approval after a lengthy process involving the Division Forest Office and the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation.

In total, authorities have approved the cutting of 11,577 trees across Mahottari, Dhanusha, and Sarlahi, districts falling within the project’s eastern stretch. Of these, 3,674 trees will be removed in Sarlahi and 1,876 in Dhanusha.

The expansion will widen the highway to 31 meters with six lanes in urban and market areas, while 18 meters with four lanes will be maintained in other sections.

A significant portion of the trees to be removed are sal trees, Chief Das noted, adding that relocating electricity poles and drinking water pipelines remains a major challenge for timely construction. Tree felling has already begun in Dhanusha and Sarlahi and will start in Mahottari shortly.