Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: State Forest Corporation (SFC) has generated a revenue of Rs. 122.19 crore, sold 22.25 lakh cft in open auction besides supplying 3.636 lakh cft of timber to Forest Sale Depots during current fiscal up to ending January 2014.
This information was given at 66th SFC Board meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Forest, Mian Altaf Ahmad here today.
Minister of State for Forests, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, MLA, Mohammad Ashraf, MLC, Jahangir Hussain Mir, Secretary, Forest, Mohamad Afzal, PCCF, Abhay Kumar, MD, SFC, L.K.Sharma, CCF, Jammu Roshan Jaggi besides other senior officers of SFC were present on the occasion.
Giving details of the working of the Corporation, Managing Director informed the meeting that several measures have been initiated to improve the financial health of the corporation while focused attention is being given to generate more revenue together with reducing the expenditure in the organization. He said the system of allotment of works and project formulation has been streamlined resulting in smooth execution of the works taken up in the field.
He said the norm rate of lumbering operations are being annually revised as per prevalent price index to maintain continuity of extraction transportation and sales operations of the Corporation. He said during current financial year the timber extraction has reached 27 lakh cft which is expected to reach to 29 lakh cft up to ending this fiscal while transportation of timber will touch to 27 lakh cft during this period. He said the timber sale of the Corporation will exceed the target of 21 lakh cft.
Pleading for diversification of the activities to make the Corporation self sufficient in financial needs, Managing Director said plantation and trading of medicinal plants, setting of wood based manufacturing units and mechanical workshops would go a long way in improving the financial health of the corporation besides utilizing the services of available manpower in the best interest of the organization. He said certain measures have been taken to streamline the human resources management, adding that Corporation would be able to save Rs. 2 crore annually.
Suggesting for opening of new 8 sale depots, four each in Kashmir and Jammu, Mr Sharma said that this exercise will on one hand generate revenue to the Corporation on other hand reduce the difficulties of the people who otherwise have to travel long distances to get the timber.
Other members of the Board also gave valuable suggestion to make the Corporation profitable.
Later the Minister released Audit report for year 2011-12.
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