Commissioner Secy Forest discusses issues related to wood-based industries

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 29: Commissioner Secretary Forest, Environment & Ecology, Saurabh Bhagat, chaired the meeting to discuss the issues pertaining to Wood Based Industries here today.

PCCF, J&K Manoj Pant, CCF Central, Vasu Yadav, CCF (Kashmir) Farooq Geelani, Special Secretary (Technical) Forest Department, CF Working Plan, J&K, Deputy Secretary (Legal) and Law Officer participated in the meeting.

The Commissioner/ Secretary was informed that State Level Committee (SLC) for wood-based industries headed by the PCCF has been constituted to address various issues relating to the Wood-Based Industries viz assessment of availability of Timber for Wood-Based Industries in the state for every five years, assessment of quantity of different raw material requirement for wood-based industries which may be sustainably harvested from trees outside forests, assessment of annual requirement of timber and other forest produce in the domestic markets in the state, approve appropriate locations for setting up of wood-based industrial units, approve the wood-based industries which may be considered for grant of fresh license or enhancement of the existing licensed capacity in case the committee is satisfied that the timber is available legally for the said new wood based industries such as trees outside forests, and forests etc.

The Commissioner/Secretary was also apprised about the J&K Wood Based (Saw Mills, Veneer & Plywood) industries (Registration & Regulation) rules 2012 issued vide SRO-103 Dated 26-03-2012 and the need for revision of registration fee and renewal period of wood-based industries of J&K.

The Commissioner Secretary desired that the State Level Committee (SLC) meeting may be convened within two week's time and the SLC shall examine the proposal received from PCCF for revision of Registration Fee, enhancing the period of renewal of license as per the guidelines issued by the MoEF&CC, Govt of India and Centrally Empowered Committee(CEC)and also opined that the SLC may take into consideration of representations made from the Wood-Based Industry Unit Holders of J&K State in this regard and based on the recommendations of the SLC, the PCCF shall furnish a proposal to the Government for revision of Registration Fee, enhancing the period of renewal of license of wood-based industries.