Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh today said that strengthening of State Forest Corporation (SFC) would revamp the forest department of the State.“We should make sure that the SFC must get its life back,” Singh told officials while taking a review of the SFC depot, Shalteng in summer capital Srinagar.“SFC is meant to give boost to the whole forest department with innovative measures,” he said.Inspecting the State Forest Corporation depots, Shalteng, Singh said that revamping of the corporation was “highest priority” for him. He said this would not only add to the overall functioning of the forest department but it would generate huge profit for the government.The Minister directed officials to make the auction of timber for people four times in a month so that they do not face any inconvenience in getting timber. He said that the committees should be formed which would ensure that the work was carried out on fast-track basis. “The timber and other necessary items from the forest department should be readily available for people across the State,” he said and added that the department needs a lot of innovative measures on all the fronts right from conservation to the supplies,” he said.
Directing the authorities to carry out repair and renovation work of SFC depot Shalteng, the Minister asked to fill the patches and potholes within the premises. He also directed the concerned to keep the decay timber out of the depot, saying that a Sawmill should be installed within the SFC premises on priority basis so that the people get quality timber from the government-run depots.While visiting the Workshop at SFC, Lal Singh directed the concerned for auction of seized automobiles on priority basis so that the place occupied by these automobiles be cleared. “Places of forests should be maintained in a professional way and people should feel good to come and visit us at any point of time,” he said and added that there won’t be any compromise on Forest areas. He also directed the concerned for fencing and construction of compound walls at PC depot Srinagar and other depots.