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Srinagar, May 2 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to import timber from Malaysia, Russia and Germany for construction purposes, a move aimed at checking massive deforestation in the state that had taken place during the past 18 years of turmoil.

Sources said the timber would be imported from Malaysia, Russia and Germany to Jammu and Kashmir through the State Forest Corporation (SFC), a government undertaking.

They said till now the timber used to be imported to the state through private companies. ''But, now it will be done at the official level,'' the sources added.

They said rapid deforestation and timber smuggling had been taking place at various levels in the Kashmir valley since the outbreak of violence in 1989.

The sources said Deodar, also known as Green Gold, and Kail trees had been the worst-affected during the period while Fir, found mainly in upper reaches, had escaped the wrath of smugglers.

''The timber from Deodar and Kail is mostly used in the construction purposes,'' they added.

The sources said the deforestation that had taken place in the past 18 years was equivalent to the forest loss during 40 years before 1989.

To compensate the loss and save the forests, they said the government has entrusted the job to the SFC to import the timber to Jammu and Kashmir.

''This will help meet the local demand for construction purposes and minimise the pressure on the remaining forests of the state,'' the sources said.

UNI