Asks for adopting
IT-enabled services to bring transparency, community involvement for forest
development
SRINAGAR, JULY
16: Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar today asked the J&K
State Forest Corporation to adopt IT enabled services to bring more
transparency in the working of the corporation besides engaging required machinery
to further slash down the cost of timber extraction. He also stressed for
community involvement that would help in developing and conservation of the
forests in the state.
The Advisor while
reviewing the functioning of the J&K State Forest Corporation said that
with the effective internal and external vigilance, the Corporation can be
strengthened and more transparent services needs to be introduced for achieving
the desired results.
Commissioner
Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Saurabh Bhagat, MD JKSFC Suresh
Chugh, Director Finance Forests and other senior officers of JKSFC and Forests
Department attended the meeting.
Reviewing the
performance of the corporation, the Advisor was enquired about the details of
timber extraction done by the Corporation in the recent years and the revenue
realized by selling the timber to the consumers. It was informed that during
2016-17, 27.09 lakh cft of timber was sold through auction and 41.62 lakh cft
was sold in the current year till now.
The meeting was
informed that the steep increase in the inflow of imported timber has reached
to 61.47 lakh cft in 2017-18 in the market which has serious impact on the
overall sale of timber by SFC.
MD JKSFC Suresh
Chugh while apprising the meeting about the mode of sale of timber by the
corporation informed the Advisor that the sale is made to the consumers through
open auction, fair price depots in Municipal areas of Srinagar & Jammu,
fair price depots in Ladakh and by concessional timber sale depots.
After having deliberate
discussions on the no of depots in the state and the rates on which the timber
is being sold to the consumers on concessional rates, the Advisor asked for
rationalization of timber rates and to come up with a report on it within a
weeks’ time.
Informing the
Advisor about the financial performance of the corporation, it was told that in
the year 2016-17, JKSFC has realized the revenue to the tune of Rs 13.98 crore
and Rs 19.14 crore in 2017-18 against the sale of 27.09 and 41.62 lakh cft of
timber in the state.
The meeting was
apprised of various elements of timber extraction followed by transportation.
In order to achieve better results and bring down the extraction cost, the
Advisor suggested for using required machinery for extraction and transportation
purpose. To have a check on pilferage, he asked for using IT enables services
with the help of some reputed IT consultants including using GPS tracking
devices.
With regard to
the steps taken by the corporation in developing the forests, the Advisor
stressed for utilizing the services of expert people within or outside the
state. He asked for looking out the experts on forests doing research on
forests in the state and to get inputs to further move in the direction of
conserving our green wealth.
Giving out the
details of the important achievements of the corporation, MD JKSFC listed out
the initiatives taken during the last two years to strengthen the corporation
including making timber distribution hassle free, taking payment through bank
drafts instead of cash for timber distribution, clearance of accumulated
liabilities, shifting of tendering work to e-tendering, Rs 2 crore provided to
Forest department for Forest Development & Protection Project etc.
Regarding social
commitments, it was informed that the corporation is providing timber on
concessional rates to the sufferers of natural calamities.
During the
meeting, various issues and concerns of SFC including issues of the employees
were put forth and discussed in detail.
The Advisor
assured the officers that all possible support would be provided by the
government. He enjoined upon the management to re-double their efforts towards
making the Corporation more profitable and asked for initiating the activities
for generating additional revenue to improve the financial health and meet the
own financial requirement.
He directed for taking all requisite steps for streamlining the system
to ensure hassle free distribution of timber to the consumers besides bringing
vibrancy and accuracy in the delivery system.
