These applications have been pending which CEC for a long time and this committee appointed by the apex court takes a decision only after taking all relevent aspects into consideration, Patel said.
The state government, which helped the revival of 125 saw mills which were closed down in Kandla, has decided to take up the issue of clearance of long pending 147 license applications after R T Somaiya, President of Timber importers association of India met the minister and pursued the matter during a function in Gandhidham yesterday.
The clearance of these license applications would result into investment of Rs 1,000 crore or more generating more job oppurtunities in the region, he said.
Terming Kandla as the timber hub of the country, President of Kandla timber association told the minister that high VAT charges has been killing the timber industry in the region which handles 55 per cent of the total national timber import.
