The Meghalaya government has reconstituted the State Level Committee for Wood-Based Industries.
The 12-member committee is headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
The task of the committee is to assess the availability of timber for wood based industrial units in the State every five years.
It will also assess the quantity of different raw material requirements for wood based industrial units which may be sustainably harvested from trees outside forest areas in the State.
Besides assessing annual requirement of timber and other forest produce in the domestic markets in the State, the committee will maintain a database of timber and other raw materials utilised by each wood based industrial unit permitted to establish and operate in the State during each financial year.
The committee will approve the appropriate locations for setting up of wood based industrial units and approve the name of wood based industrial units which may be considered for grant of fresh or enhancement of the existing licensed capacity in case the committee is satisfied that timber is available legally for the new wood based industries (such as trees outside forest areas, forests etc)
The State Level Committee will ensure that the amount lying with the State Forest Department (recovered from wood based industries) will be utilised only for the purpose of afforestation.
It will also examine and make appropriate recommendations on any other matter referred by the State government or the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate.
