‘Will distribute timber from next week’

Srinagar: A year has passed since the floods hit Kashmir, there seems no end to the miseries of flood affected people whose residential houses got fully damaged.

Flood victims said that they have been approaching the concerned offices for timber but the forest department miserably failed to distribute it among flood sufferers.

They said that despite completing all the requisite formalities and having proper sanction for timber from the department, they are not provided subsidized timber.

“For the past seven months I am being told that the timber would be made available at the PC depot but nothing has happened,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a resident of Rajbagh.

According to the Government order no. 305 –FTS of 2015 dated 15-10-2014 the timber Deodar/Kall and Fir has to be provided in the ratio of 30 and 70 cubic feet respectively on the basis of damage lists verified by the Department of Revenue and Rehabilitation with 100 cubic feet (cfts) for each fully damaged house.

There should be a release of timber to 80 sanction per day with a total release of 8000 cfts of timber per day to the flood sufferers based on these parameters the General Manager Fair Price/ TFR will ensure issuance of timber for the flood victims of Srinagar City at least to the tune of 2.00lac cfts per month, the order says.

However, victims said instead of clearing 80 sanctions only 2 to 3 sanctions are cleared in a day at Shalteng depot.

Irshad Ahmad Khan, a flood victim said, “I am not be able to continue the construction work of my damaged house due to the non-availability of timber at the depot."

Official sources within SFC said that there is a shortage of timber in the main depots at Shalteng and PC (TFR).

Flood victims alleged the department is providing timber to only those flood sufferers who own their allegiance with political leaders and parties while as the deserving are left out and are being sent to PC (TFR).

Talking to KNS, Managing Director SFC, Arun Kumar Tikku said that the subsidized timber will be available in the depots within four days and will be issued from next week onwards to the flood affected people. (KNS)