DIMAPUR, JUNE 15 (MExN): The Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) has taken serious note of the restriction on movement of timber outside the state, which has come to a standstill for almost one year, and demanded immediate transfer of the state Principal Chief Conservator of Forest. NTTU in a press release on Wednesday stated that despite representation given to the state government appealing for intervention, the latter has remained indifferent to the genuine problems faced by timber traders and tree farmers.
Pointing out that transportation of timber by wagons have come to a halt for nearly one year, NTTU alleged that it was due to the PCCF’s “negligence” as he did not give any interest to sort out the problem with the Government of India, though all his subordinate officers are doing their best considering the plight of the thousands of families whose livelihood depend on timber and its by-products.
“If the transfer or replacement of the present PCCF is not affected within fifteen days from the day of issue of the press release, then timber traders and tree farmers will be compelled to take our own course of action,” NTTU cautioned.
Besides, the union also said that even moulded beat industries in the state have shut down because they cannot send the finished products outside by wagons following the ban due to which thousands of families depending on timber trade and moulded beat industries have become jobless and facing untold problems.
“All these problems started from July 2010 when the Custom department stopped some wagons with wrong information on allegation that some wagons contained Burma teak. But when a joint verification was carried out in Delhi with the Forest department, Custom officials and timber owners, the wagons from Nagaland did not contain a single Burma teak,” NTTU said. But the present PCCF did not initiate any action to solve the problem, the union added.
NTTU reminded that timber in Nagaland is extracted under approved working scheme and from registered tree farmers and therefore the question of “illegal timber movement” does not arise.
Pointing out that transportation of timber by wagons have come to a halt for nearly one year, NTTU alleged that it was due to the PCCF’s “negligence” as he did not give any interest to sort out the problem with the Government of India, though all his subordinate officers are doing their best considering the plight of the thousands of families whose livelihood depend on timber and its by-products.
“If the transfer or replacement of the present PCCF is not affected within fifteen days from the day of issue of the press release, then timber traders and tree farmers will be compelled to take our own course of action,” NTTU cautioned.
Besides, the union also said that even moulded beat industries in the state have shut down because they cannot send the finished products outside by wagons following the ban due to which thousands of families depending on timber trade and moulded beat industries have become jobless and facing untold problems.
“All these problems started from July 2010 when the Custom department stopped some wagons with wrong information on allegation that some wagons contained Burma teak. But when a joint verification was carried out in Delhi with the Forest department, Custom officials and timber owners, the wagons from Nagaland did not contain a single Burma teak,” NTTU said. But the present PCCF did not initiate any action to solve the problem, the union added.
NTTU reminded that timber in Nagaland is extracted under approved working scheme and from registered tree farmers and therefore the question of “illegal timber movement” does not arise.
