Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: J&K Forest Contractors Association (JKFCA) today urged upon the Lt Governor GC Murmu to announce a financial package for forest contractors involved in extraction of minor forest produce in entire UT.
“The contractors have been facing economical crunch for last three years due to the non-availability of any forest related work which leads them to face starvation as they have no other source of income except the forest produce sale/extraction trade,” the Association said in a handout issued today. It further said that despite lifting the ban imposed on extraction of minor forest produces in 2004 the forest related works were not executed.
The Association said that contractors have paid advances to labourers and deposited royalty towards Government exchequer. It further said that contractors shall be accorded extension in view of extraction on time and tender shall be held before August so that work shall be carried out timely and produces shall be brought from higher reaches to the destination as due to snowfall in October, the roads in higher reaches are blocked.
“In view of sufferings of the contractors, we urged the LG of J&K GC Murmu to accord approval to a special package for extraction of minor forest produce so that the entire population in rural sector/forest dwellers gets employment with the contractors of minor forest produces,” the Association asserted.
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