Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 9: People who are intending to take up various constructions works in north Kashmir are facing an acute shortage of concessional timber which they used to obtain from J&K Forest Development Corporation (JKFDC)
There have been many applications submitted by the locals for the grant of concessional timber in north Kashmir, but, the locals, whose applications have not been processed said that not a single application has been okayed and the timber granted.
As per the details available, there are several applications submitted to the corporation that are lying pending since 2018 and have not been processed for reasons better known to the officials.
The locals who are intending to get the concessional timber said that they thought that they will get the timber of good quality and that too on concessional rates, but years have passed, they are yet to hear about the grant.
“My son has submitted application way back in 2018 for around 50 CFTs of timber from the SFC Division Baramulla, but since then over two years have passed, but I am yet to be granted the required timber,” said Abdul Hamid a resident who was intending to build a house.
While the Government departments should be ideally coming to the rescue of the commoners in their needs of getting the concessional timber, several higher officials in north Kashmir are also waiting for approval about timber for the last several years.
“You can imagine if higher officials of the district are not getting the sanctions in time what would be the condition of the commoners in the north Kashmir,” the official said.
With the delay in the processing of the cases, the commoners are not able to take up whatever meagre construction works they are intending to do, neither can they afford to buy the timber such as deodar, and other types from the market due to the costs.
Managing Director, JKFDC Vasu Yadav told Excelsior that there is no pendency in the clearance of such cases and in case there are case from the year 2018, “they must not have followed their cases and should approach the concerned office; rest we are clearing the cases on first come first serve basis because of the gap in the supply and demand,” he said.
He said that there was a delay in processing the cases initially this year due to the changeover of the organization from J&K State Forest Corporation to J&K Forest Development Corporation. “Because of that there was a delay of over a month, but as of now the cases are being cleared swiftly,” he said.
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