Draft timber policy for allotment of trees to right holders The draft document to amend the timber distribution policy proposes to allot standing trees instead of converted timber to right holders. The draft amendments in the Himachal Pradesh Forest (Timber Distribution to the Right Holders) Rules approved by the Cabinet today provides for grant of 7 cubic metre of standing volume of trees to right holders for construction of house once in 15 years. In the existing rules, a right holder is entitled to 3 cubic metre of converted timber once in 30 years. Similarly, for carrying out repairs, 3 cubic metre of standing volume of trees will be made available once in five years. The proposed rules are much liberal as against the existing provision under which 1 cubic metre of converted timber is allowed for repairs once in 15 years. However, green trees will be felled and the requirement of right holders for timber will be met through salvage marking, which means giving preference to standing trees instead of fallen trees. Green trees will be felled only if enough timber is available through salvage marking. Every year about 50,000 cubic metre to 75,000 cubic metre of standing volume is allotted to right holders and as such almost 40 per cent of the salvage marking will be utilised to meet the requirement of right holders. There is also a proposal to link grant of trees under the rules to the Aadhaar card to prevent misuse of the facility. The main problem of the right-holders was that the application for grant of trees was not accepted after the stipulated deadline and approval had to be obtained from the Gram Sabha, which held only four meetings in a year. The amended rules provide for grant of timber on the recommendation of panchayat pradhan so that requirement for funeral, renovation of temples, agriculture and other bona fide purposes could be met instantly. Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri had given an assurance in the Vidhan Sabha that “faulty” timber distribution policy framed by the BJP regime would be amended as it virtually denied villagers of their right. Since the new policy came into force in January 2010, only 813 of the total 9,771 applications were granted. As result of a tedious procedure, 7,657 applications were rejected as incomplete.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:15:59 +0000
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