Bihar Environment Minister Inaugurates ‘Ecotourism Investors Meet-2026’

Bihar Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Ram Chandra Prasad on Monday (July 13, 2026) inaugurated the ‘Ecotourism Investors Meet-2026’ organized to promote ecotourism with participation of private investors in the state.

A day-long investor meeting was organized at a city hotel, attended by potential investors from across the country who are likely to invest in various eco-tourism destinations in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prasad assured the investors that the state government is committed to provide all possible assistance to them (investors). “The state government is determined to cooperate and help in all possible ways to resolve their (investors’) grievances and problems,” Mr. Prasad said.

“Come (and invest) and be a part of the fast growing state of Bihar,” he said, adding that the investors’ meet is being organized under the able and effective leadership of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

The ministry’s Additional Principal Secretary Anand Kishor asked “investors to give their comments and suggestions during the meeting, giving a broad outline of the purpose of the meeting. The RFP (for developing ecotourism destinations) that has been uploaded on the website or published in newspapers is not “final. We will prepare an RFP based on your suggestions.”

Mr. Kishor said the ministry would prepare an investor-friendly policy to provide facilities to investors and said the investing person should take it as a “profession”.

The state government has launched a number of schemes to promote tourism and eco-tourism in the state and this ‘Investor Meet’ is one of several such initiatives designed to promote eco-tourism.

The investors aim to develop the state’s ecotourism destinations through a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support.

Mr. Kishor said the department has opened several eco-tourism sites, which have been divided into two groups for their development as tourist destinations, and Mr. Kishor said group A includes 29 “reservoir-based eco-tourism projects” while 247 projects include ponds, lakes, wetlands and other water bodies in group B.

For Group A projects, a minimum annual turnover of Rs 10 million per site is mandatory. In cases where the investor opts for multiple locations, the turnover requirement will increase proportionately with an upper limit of ₹50 crore.

For Group B projects, the minimum annual turnover requirement is ₹2 million per seat with a maximum ceiling of ₹10 million.

Adventure sports and water sports should be developed in important eco-tourism destinations that attract tourists in large numbers, Mr. Kishor said, adding that the ministry has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) to provide facilities and develop venues with the help of private players.

An RFP (Request for Proposal) has already been issued for the ecotourism project at Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary with a submission date of July 28.

Earlier, while welcoming the guests, investors and participants, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Arvinder Singh said that the department is encouraging private investment through the PPP model.

Selected investors will be offered project sites on lease for 30 years, he said, adding that financial support will be extended through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to ensure the financial viability of eligible projects.

Affirming that there is huge potential for eco-tourism in Bihar, Mr. Singh said that several infrastructure facilities have been developed in several eco-tourism destinations like Karamchat Dam in Rohtas, Mundeshwari in Kaimur, Zoo Safari, Nature Safari, Cable Car in Nalanda, Kakolat Waterfall in Nawada. Tourist footprints were much higher in these places, he added.

More than ₹ 500 crore has been spent on developing eco-tourism sites in Bihar in recent years, Mr. Singh said, adding that the government has proposed to develop eco-tourism destinations through PPP mode.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 04:00 IST