E-Paper
Submit report on plea against nod to wood-based industries: NGT to Punjab
A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Adarsh Kumar Goel sought a factual report in the matter from the principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force, Punjab, within a month
New Delhi
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed the Punjab forest department to submit report on a plea challenging a decision allowing wood-based industries to operate without any restriction.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Adarsh Kumar Goel sought a factual report in the matter from the principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force, Punjab, within a month.
According to the plea, the forest cover in Punjab is already very low and permitting unlimited number of wood-based industries merely on the condition that the source of wood should be agro forestry species from non-forest land, imported wood and wood from other states will not be adequate safeguards against illegal deforestation.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by NGO Umeed challenging decision of the state-level committee (SLC), Punjab, which allowed wood-based industries to operate.
The applicant has stated that to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court, the ministry of environment and forests has issued ‘Wood Based Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Guidelines, 2016’ which require assessment of availability of timber. The plea also referred to Saw Mill Rules, 2017, formulated by Punjab, which permitted establishment of a wood-based industry within 100 metre aerial distance from notified government block forests and demarcated and non-demarcated protected forests.
It said without compiling district-wise and species-wise data of timber availability and consumption, Punjab has taken the impugned decision to permit wood-based industries without any restriction of number.
