J&K Govt reorganises oversight mechanism for wood-based industries, adds sectoral voice

Srinagar, Nov 13: In a move aimed at strengthening environmental compliance and streamlining the licensing of wood-based units, the J&K government has overhauled its oversight mechanism for the sector by reconstituting the UT-level committee that regulates industrial operations, raw material use and new project approvals.

The General Administration Department has notified the reconstituted panel, stating that “Sanction is hereby accorded to the re-constitution of Union territory level Committee… for Wood Based Industries in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.”

The committee will be chaired by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, with senior officials from the Forest Development Corporation, Forest Department, Industries & Commerce, Agriculture Production, Revenue Department and the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as members. A representative of the Saw Mill Association will serve as a Special Invitee, and the Chairman may co-opt additional experts not below the rank of Conservator of Forests.

The move also comes against the backdrop of concerns repeatedly raised by the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), which had argued that the earlier framework lacked structural provisions mandated under national guidelines. The Federation had pointed out the absence of a fully constituted UT-level committee and flagged gaps in licensing and regulatory procedures. The reconstitution, including formal industry representation, addresses several of those concerns.

The government has assigned a wide-ranging mandate to the newly formed panel. The order specifies that the committee will be responsible “to assess the availability of raw material requirements of wood-based industries, including timber from trees growing outside the forests in Jammu and Kashmir, every ten years.”

It has further been directed “to approve appropriate locations for setting up of wood-based industrial units in conformity with law,” reflecting a shift toward planned and geographically regulated industrial expansion.

The Committee has also been empowered “to restrict the maximum number of wood-based Industries that may be installed in any given locality,” a provision aimed at preventing clustering, over-extraction and ecological stress. Licensing has been placed under tighter scrutiny, with the order authorising the panel “to approve the name of wood-based industrial units which may be considered for grant of fresh license or enhancement of the existing licensed capacity” once it verifies that timber is legally available for such units.

To ensure transparent monitoring, the panel will also maintain a record of all operational wood-based industries and the raw material they use. It has additionally been tasked “to examine and make appropriate recommendations on any other matters referred by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir in this regard.” The committee must meet at least once every three months, with a minimum quorum of half its members.

The order, signed by M Raju, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, has been circulated to all relevant administrative departments for implementation. Hindi and Urdu versions will be issued separately.

Officials say the restructured committee marks an important step toward sustainable resource management, balanced industrial growth and improved transparency in the wood-based sector—an area that has long required stronger regulatory attention.