Wood based industries exempted from NOC

Chandigarh, Feb 13 (UNI) The Punjab Government has exempted the existing wood based industries from the condition of obtaining no objection certificate (NOC) from District Magistrates.

Stating this here today, Forest Minister Tikshan Sud said the state government had already obtained permission for licensing 6,000 wood based units in the state from Central Empowered Committee (CEC) constituted by the Supreme Court.

He said that these units were facing lot of problems in getting NOC from District Magistrates that was pre-requisite for issuing of licence under existing procedures.

''The Punjab Forest Department therefore has decided to withdraw this condition in public interest with the concurrence of the CEC, finding this condition being vague, unspecific and impracticable,'' the Minister added.

He said that all District Forest Officers had been directed to issue licences to existing Wood Based Units (approved by CEC) without insisting NOC from District Magistrates.

The Minister said that besides providing huge relief to these 6,000 units, this decision would give a boost to employment generation in these units and also help the state in generation of extra revenue through taxes that had diminished due to closure of this industries.

The Forest Minister said the Punjab Government was committed to promote wood based industries in the state to help farmers in getting good return for their farm grown wood in their fields and advancement of crops diversification.

UNI PS BJR BD1728