New forest policy to make TD to right holders: Minister

As per a new forest policy to be implemented soon, trees, for firewood and other purposes, will be alloted to right holders in Himachal Pradesh directly as against the earlier practice of providing only converted timber.
Replying to a notice in the Assembly, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri today said the government was planning to introduce the new policy which envisaged to make the rules simpler for grant of fuel wood and timber to right holders under Timber Distrubution (TD) rules.
He was replying to a notice moved by Maheshwar Singh (HLP) on the recent denial of distribution of timber to fire/natural calamity sufferers in the state.

As per the present policy, the forest department allotted wood only after conversion of timber. But due to unavailability of funds, officials were unable to convert trees into timber, resulting in the reduction of supply.
Bharmauri said in Kullu alone, only 22 applicants could be supplied timber out of 395 applicants.
Forest minister said the department had formed new policy under which an old system of providing standing trees to the right holders has been re-introduced and this policy will be implemented within a week.