Construction of Daijichhela industrial zone stalled over pending tree felling approval

Kanchanpur: The development of the Daijichhela Industrial Zone has come to a halt due to the lack of progress in tree felling procedures.

Although preparations were made to establish the industrial zone in the forest areas of Bedkot Municipality-2 and 3, construction has stalled as tree felling has not been carried out. According to the Ministry of Forests, approximately 25,000 trees need to be cut for the establishment of the Chhela Industrial Zone. Naresh Bahadur Singh, Chairman of Bedkot Municipality-2, said the project has been halted due to the absence of permission for tree removal.

He stated that the work of marking and enclosing the trees for industrial zone expansion has been completed following the tree count. Subash Kunwar, Information Officer at the Division Forest Office, Kanchanpur, confirmed that a report with recommendations regarding the required tree felling has been submitted to the ministry. The survey office has already verified four forts and recommended expanding the industrial zone across 136.59 hectares of forest area.

The government had approved the establishment of the industrial zone in Daiji during a meeting in 2072 BS. Chairman Singh said the project stalled after the Genji movement and emphasized that a Cabinet decision is needed to move it forward.

Blacktopping on the access road
Despite the halted industrial zone construction, blacktopping work on the access road has nearly reached completion. Bedkot Mayor Bhojraj Bohora said blacktopping of the access road to the Chhela Industrial Zone is being carried out at a cost of Rs 70 million, supported by a federal complementary grant and Bedkot Municipality. Currently, 3.5 kilometers of blacktopping is underway, and work on the remaining two kilometers will begin immediately, he said.

Brij Chand, operator of the construction company Bhageshwor New Ugratara Shiv Shankar JV, said the access road work is now in its final phase. According to him, 60 percent of the blacktopping has been completed, and the road will be finished within the next two months.

While progress on the access road continues, local residents remain disappointed by the lack of development within the industrial zone itself. Ward No. 2 Chairman Naresh Singh said that if completed, the industrial zone could provide employment for an estimated 10,000 people. He added that despite multiple visits by ministers to Kanchanpur and tours of the site, overall construction has yet to advance.