Order

Learned Attorney General submits that the perception of the Ministry of Environment and Forests is as under :

1. It has been estimated by the HPC that about 1.20 lakhs cubic meters of illicitly felled seized timber, belonging to the State Governments is lying in the forests and depots for varying periods of time between 1 to 2 years and is thereby getting degraded on account of decay and rotting of the wood. It is necessary to dispose it off at the earliest to minimise any further loss in its monetary value. There is, in addition, considerable quantity of timber claimed by the private industry and local people. In view of the approaching monsoon season (April 98) all such timber needs to be disposed off with urgency to save further loss in quality, as also in value, albeit with proper checks and balances.

2. Given the weak infrastructure in the North-Eastern region, it does not seem feasible to transport such huge quantities of timber for auction in markets outside the region in a short time. Moreover, there would be uncertainty of the response in timber markets far away from the source of timber which has been subject to elements of degradation in varying degree