- Open tendering for extraction to generate revenue
JAMMU: To make optimum use of manpower and to further streamline the functioning of the Forest Department, the Government is mulling to restructure the organization. This was revealed by the Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment, Bali Bhagat while reviewing the overall functioning of Forest Department at a meeting of officers held here today. Several issues related to the functioning of the Department were discussed in detail and the Minister sought views of the officers to make the department more vibrant and result oriented by making best use of available resources.
Laying stress on ensuring transparency, accountability and performance at all levels, the Minister said that these three factors should be the basic benchmarks and officers must focus on these to achieve the results. He said a dedicated approach is needed to protect the forests and natural resources across the State. He reiterated his endeavour to vacate the entire encroached land from the culprits and called upon the officers to chalk out a comprehensive programme to achieve the allocated targets. He said entire Government is behind the officers in this cause and they will have free hand to deal with this sensitive issue, the Minister asserted.
Referring to the constitution of a Committee of officers to suggest measures pertaining to the revival of State Forest Corporation (SFC) and promoting the forest based industry in the State, the Minister said that the findings of the Committee will be taken into consideration to improve the health of the Corporation. He said Government is not in favour of paying salaries to the employees without their performance; rather it will appreciate steps which will improve the revenue realization. He said SFC has special mandate to generate income by selling timber on commercial lines, but the Corporation has failed to deliver as per the expectations, he added.
To streamline the process of timber extraction and to improve the revenue realization, it was decided that extraction works over 20,000 cft shall be executed through open tendering system by both Forest Department and SFC. The issues regarding setting up of more timber sale depots in the uncovered areas, revision of timber rates were also discussed in detail. He directed the concerned to come up with the proposals for approval. Meanwhile, he also directed the concerned for providing the timber to the flood victims on priority on old rates.
Principal Secretary Forest, Mr. R.K. Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mr. A.K. Singh, Managing Director, SFC, Mr. A.K. Tikku, Chief Conservators of Forest, Kashmir, Jammu, Mr. Nissar Ahmed and Mr. A.M. Sagar, DFO, Jammu, Dr. V.S. Senthil Kumar and other officers of the forest department were present in the meeting.