Nagaland Timber traders concerned over ban on timber

The Nagaland Timber Traders Union (NTTU) has taken serious note of the restriction on movement of timber outside the state, which has come to a standstill for almost one year, and demanded immediate transfer of the Nagaland Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF). NTTU in a press release stated that despite representation given to the State Government appealing for intervention, the latter has remained indifferent to the genuine problems faced by timber traders and tree farmers. Pointing out that transportation of timber by wagons have come to a halt for nearly one year, NTTU alleged that it was due to the PCCFs 'negligence' as he did not give any interest to sort out the problem with the Centre, though all his subordinate officers are doing their best considering the plight of the thousands of families whose livelihood depend on timber and its by-products.

''If the transfer or replacement of the present PCCF is not affected within 15-day from the day of issuance of the press release, then timber traders and tree farmers will be compelled to take our own course of action,'' NTTU cautioned.

Besides, the union also said even moulded beat industries in the state have shut down because they cannot send the finished products outside by wagons following the ban due to which thousands of families depending on timber trade and moulded beat industries have become jobless and facing untold problems.

All these problems started from July 2010 when the Custom department stopped some wagons with wrong information on an allegation that some wagons contained Burma teak. But when a joint verification was carried out in Delhi with the Forest department, Custom officials and timber owners, the wagons from Nagaland did not contain a single Burma teak,'' NTTU said, even then the present PCCF did not initiate any action to solve the problem, the union alleged.