SRINAGAR: Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Javed Ahmed Rana on Tuesday directed the Forest Development Corporation (FDC) Limited and allied agencies to set clear monthly targets for timber marking, extraction, transportation and auction to improve efficiency and ensure timely availability of timber.
The directions were issued during a review meeting at the Civil Secretariat to assess the functioning of the FDC and issues related to timber supply and sales.
Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Sheetal Nanda, Managing Director, FDC Limited, Dr K. Anandh, and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sarvesh Rai, who joined virtually, attended the meeting.
Rana stressed the need to streamline the timber supply chain and complete the current year’s timber extraction before the onset of snowfall. He asked officials to fix measurable monthly targets for each stage of the process and monitor their implementation closely.
The minister also directed authorities to expedite tendering procedures and remove operational bottlenecks that could delay timber extraction, transportation and auction.
He emphasised the importance of proper grading and quality assessment of timber to ensure consumers receive quality material at reasonable and transparent rates. Transparent auctioning and efficient supply mechanisms, he said, were necessary to improve public access to timber.
During the meeting, Rana sought a detailed review of the corporation’s performance, including sales, revenue generation and operational efficiency. He directed officials to prepare a vision document for the next two to three years outlining targets for timber sales, revenue enhancement, operational reforms and service delivery.
The minister also asked the corporation to formulate a policy aimed at increasing timber sales, strengthening market linkages and improving the efficiency of the supply chain while ensuring sustainable management of forest resources.
Rana reviewed the status of auction depots and Central Timber Sale Depots (CTSDs) across Jammu and Kashmir and directed officials to address operational issues and improve service delivery to ensure timely availability of timber to consumers.
