(a) whether the number of timber based industries is not in proportion to the quantum
of timber produced in the country; and
(b) if so, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard alongwith the
potential for timber based industries in the country ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a)&(b): At the Central level no information is maintained regarding number of timber based
industry and quantum of timber production in the country. However, as informed by the
Ministry of Environment and Forest(MOEF), there is a Supreme Court directives of October,
2002 regarding wood based industries as per which the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
set up by Hon’ble Supreme Court has constituted State Level Committees in different States
under the Chairmanship of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests which are responsible for
assessing (a) timber availability in the state from all sources, i.e. from forest area,
non-forest, net import from other States and net import from other countries; (b) timber
requirement of the existing licensed wood based industries; and (c) to examine applications
received/referred by the CEC regarding wood based industries in concerned States. The State
Level Committees make their recommendations to the CEC for consideration as per the
availability of timber from all sources.
MOEF have further informed that to increase the availability of timber in the country for
wood based industries import of timber has been liberalized apart from promoting agro
forestry, social forestry, farm forestry and afforestation of degraded areas.