17.52 lakh cft timber, 1.02 lakh qtls firewood supplied during past 2 yrs: Lal Singh

         JAMMU, JANUARY 16-  Minister for Forests, Ch. Lal Singh today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Department of Forests has supplied 17,52,822 cft of timber during the past two years to the consumers of the State. He said 7,42,178 cft was supplied during 2016-17 and 10,10,644 cft in 2017-18.

 Similarly, the department has also supplied 1,02,830 qtls of fire firewood to various religious organizations in the State during this period. He said in 2016-17, 47,988 qtls and during 2017-18, 54,842 qtls of firewood was supplied to the religious organizations across the State.

          Replying to a question by Ch. Mohammad Akram in the House, the Minister said that the J&K State Forest Corporation is supplying quality timber to the consumers as per the demand. Similarly, adequate firewood is being supplied to the religious institutions according to the demand received from them, said the Minister.

          Responding to the supplementary questions by Usman Majeed, Daleep Parihar, G. M. Saroori, Altaf Ahmed Wani and Jeevan Lal, the Minister said that presently the timber is supplied to the people through a strong network of 885 depots and there is no proposal to open any new depot, he added.