Minister explains late night transportation of timbers
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 03 2023:
Forest and environment minister Th Biswajit clarified that timbers being transported in trucks during late night are of Myanmar origin which were seized and consequently auctioned by the department as per the existing norms.
Responding to a policy cut motion moved by opposition member K Ranjit during the discussion on demand for grant of forest and environment department in the assembly on Thursday, the minister informed that the timbers are being transported with possession of requisite transit passes from the government.
Opposition members K Meghachandra and Th Lokeshwar also moved policy cut motions during the discussion.
While moving the motion, MLA Ranjit said that timbers are transported in numerous trucks during late night.
Generally, there is suspicion on any activities carried out in deep night when everybody else is asleep.
Such transportation of timbers could be seen along Bur-ma-Sugnu Road as well as in Ukhrul, Kasom and Phungyar areas.
Claiming that he has reports of timbers being loaded in 80 trucks in Heirok area, the Congress MLA opined that even if the government auctions the timbers, it would not be possible to conduct auction every day and drew attention of the House to generate revenue from the timber trade with strict intervention.
The state's forest cover has decreased significantly and illegal timber trade is a major factor.
Losing 748 square kilometres of forest cover is not a trivial matter, he said while proposing a policy to ban tree cutting for five years to replenish the forest cover.
The Supreme Court also imposed a complete ban on felling trees for timber in the north-eastern states citing deforestation issue.
At the same time, ply factories in the state are using Ucham (softwood), the MLA continued while enquiring the source of these softwoods.
In response, minister Biswajit said that the government had a joint meeting with timber traders in the past and as a result able to streamline the sector to a large extent.
He said that timber trading is done legally as far as possible in the state even though there might be some lapses.
The department auctions timber at government rate and transit passes are issued to timber traders.
The government had auctioned 6000 cubic metres of timbers, which would be around 600 truckloads.
Moreover, the department is planning to auction 580 cubic metres of timber soon.
As a result of the initiative, the forest department has been able to contribute an amount of Rs 18 crore in the current financial year.
He further said that there is ban on cutting down softwoods (ucham) and legal actions initiated against violators after arresting them.
There are no fully grown teak or Khangra (Dipterocarpus turbinatus), and as such there is no instance of illegal cutting of these hardwoods, the minister said, adding that plywood factories in the state generally use Khangra and Yangou (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus).
He then proposed for a joint inspection if any member has suspicion of using softwoods in the ply factories.
As for the ban on cutting down trees for timber, it will definitely lead to some legal issues and he is not in favour of such ban, Biswajit maintained.
MLA K Ranjit also brought up the issue of air pollution saying that it has become a cause for respiratory diseases among many.
In response, Biswajit said that the Manipur Pollution Control Board had set up two ambient air monitoring stations at Manipur University and DM University campuses.
The station in MU re corded poor air quality at the time of highway construction but the air quality is improving as the high -way work is nearing completion.
The department has also taken up policy to plant trees on road median and roadside to check air pollution, he added.