Saw mills to re-open in Uttar Pradesh

In a major relief to saw mills, plywood units and Veneer units in Uttar Pradesh, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended reopening 2,196 saw mills and 15 Veneer units in the state.

All the saw mills and Veneer units in the state were closed following a Supreme Court order in September last year.

In compliance with the Supreme Court's order, as many as 3,220 saws mills and 115 Veneer and plywood units were closed down in UP. The CEC was constituted on the directives of the Supreme Court to supervise the implementation of its decision.

The apex court had ordered that such saw mills whose license was renewed after March 4, 1997 and all Veneer units operating without obtaining NOC from the concerned authorities be closed down with immediate effect.

The apex court had also ordered the state government to determine the potential of availability of timber in UP and only on that basis timber based industry be allowed to operate.

The court had directed the UP government to hire the services of the Forest Survey of India, Dehradoon to work out the availability of the timber in UP and also directed the state's chief secretary to file an affidavit in the court.

The apex court for the implementation of its order had also constituted a Central empowered committee and the State level committee.