Chamba, February 4
The timber and charcoal of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation worth crores of rupees has been decaying in the open at Sultanpur, which is a stop-gap arrangement though this site has not been approved by the government.
The state Forest Department scarified its own precious piece of land which it had provided to the corporation for the purpose of timber and charcoal depot for the facility of forest right-holders of Chamba town. In order to give space for access to new bridge raised over the river Ravi at this site, the Corporation had to shift its depot from the Sitla Bridge to Sultanpur temporarily. The forest corporation needs some place where some huts for the safe protection of charcoal and timber could be constructed, but the district administration has not been able to provide the suitable land for the purpose so far.
This issue was also raised in the meeting of district grievances committee by certain unofficial members that they were getting wet charcoal.
The forest corporation had submitted its proposal for seeking funds for the construction of structures for the safe storage of timber and charcoal, but nothing concrete has come up even as more than two years have elapsed.
— OC
