7.85 lakh cft of timber provided to people in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 25 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation (SFC) has earned a revenue of about Rs 36 crore through sale of 7.85 lakh cft of timber in the Valley during the current fiscal so far, an official spokesman said here today.

The sale also includes timber provided at fair price to consumers through various sale outlets across the valley, he said.

About 2.50 lakh cft of timber has been released to various depots while another one lakh cft is in the process of being released.

He said, Minister for Forests and Environment Qazi Afzal has directed the SFC officials to ensure that the target of providing timber to consumers are achieved in full well in time.

He asked them to release timber to the consumers by the end of coming January besides formulate the targets, both physical and financial, for the next financial year so that the consumers do not face any difficulty.

Mr Afzal instructed for dumping more timber at Khandroo for the affected people whose houses were damaged after Field Ordinance Depot caught fire early this year.

The minister asked SFC officials to involve local representatives while distributing the timber to the consumers so that the timber can reach to the deserving.

He also asked them to submit a detailed report of each constituency regarding target of issuance of timber.

UNI