SC committee wood-based industries allowed in Haryana

Chandigarh, Feb 18 (UNI) In a major decision, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) set up by the Supreme Court, has permitted operation of plywood and other wood-based industries in Haryana, Minister of Forests and Tourism Haryana Kiran Choudhry said here today.

The decision of the CEC to allow operation of all wood-based industries, including those established after October 30, 2002, has come as a big relief to the plywood units in Yamuna Nagar and other parts of the state, Ms Choudhry said.

The apex court, in its judgement of October 30, 2002 in response to a writ petition, had directed that no new wood-based industry would be allowed in any state without prior approval of the CEC.

This had lead to the closure of several plywood and other wood based units in Haryana which were established after October 30, 2002.

However, the Haryana government took up the matter with the CEC and convinced it that the raw material used by the wood-based industries in the state was grown on community plantations and farm lands under agro-forestry.

Since the above order was aimed at forest conservation by prevention of illicit felling, Haryana prayed to be left out of the purview of the apex court's orders as enough timber was available in the state to sustain the operation of all wood-based units. The CEC agreed with the contention of the State Forest Department and has finally accorded approval for the operation of all wood units in the state, Ms Choudhry said.

There are 5,086 wood-based industries in Haryana, in which 4,489 existed prior to October 30, 2002 and 597 were established after that the decision of the CEC has benefitted them all.

According to an asseessment made by State Forest Department and CEC, the total annual requirement of the wood-based industries in the state came to 19,97,750 cubic metre (cum).

The availability of raw material was 21.72 million cum, based on a survey conducted by Haryana Forest Department in November and December 2006. The species-wise distribution was Euclyptus 26.5 per cent, Poplar 7.8 per cent, short rotation species 27.2 per cent and long rotation species 38.5 per cent.

Ms Choudhary has now directed the State Forest Department to get a detailed survey of availability of wood done by Forest Survey of India, which, if it validates the Survey of Haryana Forest Department carried out in November-December 2006, would permit establishment of new wood-based industries and expansion of existing ones, an officail statement said.

UNI