KL Report
JAMMU
Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad, who is also Chairman, Board of Directors of State Forest Corporation (SFC) has asked the officers of State Forest Corporation to minimize the expenditure at all levels besides taking concrete measures for increasing revenue to improve the financial health of the Corporation.
The Minister was speaking at 65th Board of Directors Meeting of the State Forest Corporation.
Emphasizing on close coordination between SFC and Forest Department, the Minister asked the officers to take necessary measures and ensure availability of timbers at all sale depots to meet the demands of the consumers. “It is our obligation and responsibility to make available adequate timber to the consumers” said the Minister, adding that poor consumers cannot afford to purchase timber from open market rather pinning hope with SFC.
Underling need for judicious utilization of resources, the Minister said that the prosperity of the Corporation is linked with the stable financial position of the Organization. He directed concerned authorities to chase the targets fixed for current fiscal besides making efforts for generating revenue and increasing sales in the Corporation.
Dr Manohar asked officers of SFC to initiate steps for streamlining the allotment of works and project formulation besides increasing efficiency at all levels of the Corporation. Stressing for making accountability more effective in the Corporation, Dr Manohar said need of the hour is to fulfill the timber needs of the people.
Giving details of the achievements, Managing Director informed the meeting that Corporation has generated income of Rs. 105 crore during 2012-13 which was Rs. 80 crore during 2011-12. During the period 29.13 lakh cft timber has been extracted and transported while the Corporation has sold 18.40 lakh cft during last fiscal, he added.
Audit reports for last 16 years from 1994-1995 to 2009-2010 were also presented by the MD and said that the accounts for the year 2010-11, 2011-12 are in progress.
The meeting was told that necessary measures have been initiated to extract 40 lakh cft timber besides transportation of 35 lakh cft, the target fixed for current fiscal.
It was given out that sale target of timber for 2013-2014 has been fixed 21 lakh cft while the revenue target has been pegged at 143 crore during the same period. Efforts are on to revive Pathankote sale center from this year, it was intimated.
