Uttarakhand: Proposal for change in Lisa Act is ready, efforts to give work to private sector are intensified

The exercise to give the work of resin to the private sector through auction has intensified. For this work, changes will have to be made in the Resin and Other Forest Produce (Trade Regulation) Act-1976 and the rules. A proposal has been prepared from the Forest Headquarters and sent to the government. The government is also talking about looking at all possible options.

At present, the Forest Department does the work of resin extraction, storage and sale in the state. More than one lakh quintals of resin is collected in the state every year. In this work, the Forest Department gives the contract of only resin tipan (collecting resin from the forest) to the private sector. All the rest of the work is of the forests.

A high-level meeting was held in October this year, in which the Forest Minister, Principal Secretary Forest etc. participated. In this meeting, the plan to give the work of resin to the private sector under the pilot project was discussed. Now the exercise has moved forward regarding this. Because this work has to be given to the private sector, changes will have to be made in the Resin Act and the rules. According to sources, the forest headquarters has prepared a proposal and sent it to the government.

80 crore revenue is received

For the storage of resin, which is considered flammable, there are resin depots in Haldwani, Tanakpur, Nainital, Almora, Rishikesh and other places, where there are strict security arrangements. Private people buy resin through auction. On an average, the forest department receives revenue of about 80 crores every year. It is known that resin is used in paint and other works.

All options are being considered to ensure maximum use of resources and changes according to time. This will also increase revenue.

-RK Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary Forest