Nagpur: Overcoming Covid-19 pandemic fears, Maharashtra
forest department has succeeded in generating revenue of Rs199 crore through e-auction of timber logs, firewood and bamboo.
“The state forest department had started a digital platform for sale of timber in 2015 with just three depots in the first year. Now, there are 50 depots across Maharashtra and over 1,200 contractors and traders from all over the country participating in the auction. Earlier, only contractors from Maharashtra used to participate,” said Praveen Srivastava, principal chief conservator f forests (production & management).
Srivastava said, “Professional commitment and observance of all Covid-19 protocol and guidelines resulted in no causality among the staff and workers. Not a single worker belonging to the forest labour cooperative societies (FLCSs) was affected by Coronavirus. The FLCSs were awarded coupes all over Nagpur, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Amravati and Aurangabad forest circles.”
“We provided helmets to all workers for safety, luminescent jackets for easy identification in the forest, and insurance for all resulted in zero causality. Safeguards for their life and health gave dividends,” said the PCCF.
The FLCSs are operating since 1950 and are actively engaged in working out forest coupes, where they share 20% of the net revenue accruable to the forest department.
On achieving the feat, Srivastava said, “Timely sanction for felling, logging, transportation, and auction delivered the result. Though our operations were affected for a period of three months between March and June, professional efficiency and operational output by the entire team paid off.”