KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has declined lifting ban on any kind of forest cutting, saying that a comprehensive environment policy has been prepared for increase in forest covered area and scientific cutting of trees in the province. The policy, he said, is being announced next month.
Talking to a representative delegation of forest owners and notables from District Upper Dir, which called on him led by Provincial Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD), here in CM Secretariat, he said that besides other solid measures, several good news were also in the pipeline for forests owners and timber merchants. On this occasion, MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah, Provincial Minister for Sports & Culture, Mehmood Khan, MPAs, Mohammad Ali Khan, Shakeel Khan, Abdul Monim, Fazal Hakeem and former provincial minister Ahmad Hassan Khan and other public representatives and authorities were also present.
The delegation urged the government to continue strict policy for maintaining check on cutting. However, they stressed for granting temporary permission for transportation of windfall to market. The chief minister said that provincial autonomy achieved under 18th Constitutional Amendment had multiplied their responsibilities. He said that from next month they are going to announce a comprehensive environment policy, which also include scientific management plan for forests.
Under the new policy, he said each forest's division will have separate plan. Under which after the harvesting of windfall in an organized and scientific manner there would be complete ban on cutting. Under the new policy, he said all windfall cases since 2003 will be disposed of. He said that under the policy scientific management plan for 8 forest divisions of Malakand and 9 for Hazara Division are being given final shape. In this connection, he said a task force comprising public representatives, government officials and experts is busy in day-night work.
The chief minister while accepting the unanimous request of the Jirga for giving representation to MPA Mohammad Ali on Malakand Forest Management Plan directed Additional Chief Secretary for his inclusion in the task force with immediate effect. He said that in past the province use to earn an annual profit of Rs 500 million from the sale of furniture wood, but after this ban under Red Plus and Carbon Plus World Plan the provincial government for provision of forests and environment has been guaranteed the provision of Rs 3 billion per annum, which he said would not only benefit the royalty holders, but would also protect forests from cutting.
The chief minister said that under Billion Tree Tsunami Plan the provincial government is making efforts for increase in forest covered area for which, he said, an amount of Rs 1 billion has been allocated for the current financial year. The chief minister said that the harvesting and marketing of dried wood was allowed under Dry Windfall Policy 2003, but it inflicted negative impact and a process of the merciless cutting was started.
Comments
Comments are closed.