Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad has asked the State Forest Corporation (SFC) authorities to speed up timber extraction process, identified earlier, especially in Chenab Valley to ensure early transportation of the extracted timber to the depots of the Corporation. He asked them to take necessary measures for maintaining balance in demand and supply of timber.
The Minister was reviewing the demand and availability of timber in SFC depots at an officers meeting held here today.
Secretary Forest, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Managing Director SFC, Chief Conservator Forest, Jammu besides other senior officers of SFC and Forest Department were present on the occasion.
Giving details of the working of the Corporation, the Managing Director said that Corporation has sold 18.74 lakh cft timber and extracted 26 lakh cft against the set target of 40 lakh cft during the current financial year till date. The Corporation has earned revenue of Rs. 114.12 crore on sale of the timber, he added.
The Managing Director, while suggesting diversification of the Corporation, said that the cultivation and trading in medicinal plants, implementation of plantation projects on commercial lines and setting up of wood based manufacturing units would open new means of income and will go a long way in improving the financial position of the organization.
The Minister instructed the officers of SFC and Forest Department to work in a coordinated manner to ensure early lifting of fallen trees from the forest to save them from rotting in open. He said on the one hand it will help to meet public demand and on other hand fetch income to the Corporation.
Mian Altaf asked the authorities of SFC to check unnecessary expenditures in the Corporation and put all human and other resources in use, besides taking necessary measures for improving the financial health of the Corporation.
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