NGT directs Punjab forest dept to submit report on plea against permission to wood based industries
New Delhi Aug 23 PTI The National Green Tribunal on Monday directed the Punjab forest department to submit report on a plea challenging a decision allowing wood based industries WBI to operate without any restrictionA bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel sought a factual report in the matter from the Prinicpal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force Punjab within one monthAccording to the plea the forest cover in Punjab is already very low and permitting unlimited number of WBIs 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 deforestationThe tribunal was hearing a plea filed by NGO Umeed challenging decision of the State Level Committee SLC Punjab which allowed Wood based industries WBI to operate without any restriction of number on the condition that the source of wood should be agro forestry species from non-forest land imported wood and wood from other StatesThe 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 WBI within 100 metre aerial distance from notified government block forests and demarcated and undemarcated protected forests It said without compiling district-wise and species-wise data of timber availability and consumption the State of Punjab has taken the impugned decision to permit WBIs without any restriction of number While the decision requires source of wood to be from agro forestry species from non-forest land imported wood and wood from other States in practical terms WBIs are bound to source wood from illegal sources the plea said PTI PKS RKS RKS
New Delhi Aug 23 PTI The National Green Tribunal on Monday directed the Punjab forest department to submit report on a plea challenging a decision allowing wood based industries WBI to operate without any restrictionA bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel sought a factual report in the matter from the Prinicpal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force Punjab within one monthAccording to the plea the forest cover in Punjab is already very low and permitting unlimited number of WBIs 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 deforestationThe tribunal was hearing a plea filed by NGO Umeed challenging decision of the State Level Committee SLC Punjab which allowed Wood based industries WBI to operate without any restriction of number on the condition that the source of wood should be agro forestry species from non-forest land imported wood and wood from other StatesThe 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 WBI within 100 metre aerial distance from notified government block forests and demarcated and undemarcated protected forests It said without compiling district-wise and species-wise data of timber availability and consumption the State of Punjab has taken the impugned decision to permit WBIs without any restriction of number While the decision requires source of wood to be from agro forestry species from non-forest land imported wood and wood from other States in practical terms WBIs are bound to source wood from illegal sources the plea said PTI PKS RKS RKS
