GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
ABSTRACT

Supreme Court of India directions in writ petition (Civil) No.171 of 96 – Constitution of Expert Committee on Forest etc., - orders – Issued.

ENVIRONMENT FORESTS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (FOR.I) DEPARTMENT

G.O.Ms.No.1 Dt.10.1.1997

1. From the Assistant Register, Supreme Court of India D.O.No.597/
97PIL/ ERIT, SCI, New Delhi, Dt.17-12-1996.

O R D E R :

In the reference cited, the Supreme Court of India has issued directions to the all State Governments that the felling of trees in all forests is to remain suspended except in accordance with the working plans of the State Governments as approved by the Central Government in addition to specific direction to certain State Governments.

1. The Supreme Court of India has also issued directions that each State Government should constitute with0in one month an expert committee to identify the areas which are "forest" etc.

2. The Government hereby constitute an expert committee with the following as members:

1. Sri Pratap Bahdur, IFS, (Retd.) Forest Officer,
2. M.D., APSRAC,
3. Director, NRSA, (National Remote Sensing Agency)
4. Secretary to CLR(Commissioner Land Revenue)
5. Commissioner, tribal welfare,
6. Sivaramakrishan, SAKTI,
7. K.Subba Rao, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Member Convenor.

The Committee will submit a report of the following points within a period of one month from the note of this order:

i). Identify areas which are ‘Forests’ irrespective of whether they are so notified, recognised or classified under any law, and irrespective of the ownership of the land of such forests

ii). Identify areas which were earlier forest but stand degraded, denuded or cleared; and

iii). Identify areas covered by plantation trees belonging to the Government and those belonging to private persons.

The members of the Committee will be entitled to draw TA/DA as applicable to Grade 1 officer of the State Government.

(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADEH)

Dr.C.S.RANGACHARI,
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

To

The Prl.Chief Conservator of Forest, A.P.Hyd.
Copy to the individual: through Prl.Chief Conservtor of Forest.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON RE-OPENING OF
GODAVARI FLYWOODS LTD..
RAMPACHODAVARAM, HELD ON 21-05-99 AT 10-30 A.M.

The Project Officer, ITDA, Rampachodavaram convened the meeting on "Re-opening of Godvari Plywoods Ltd. Rampachodavaram" on 21-5-99 at 10-30 a.m. in ITDA, Rampachodavaram.

The following officers, persons attended the meeting.

1. Hon'ble M.L.A., Yellavaram Assembly Constituency,
2. The Managing Director, Godavari Plywoods Ltd., Hyderabad
3. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Rampachodavaram
4. The Mandal Revenue Officer, Rampachodavaram.
5. The Mandal Revenue Officer, Maredumilli.
6. Sri D.Samuel, Advisor & Convenor, {}Ex.Union Leaders.
7. Sri P.Baburao, President, {}Godavari Plywoods
8. Sri D.Sundara rao, Genl. Secretary, {}National Employees
9. Sri G. Seetaramulu, Treasurer {}Union, R. Chodavaram

The Managing Director, Godavari Plywoods Ltd., firstly informed that 1000 C.M.T. of wood is required every month for smooth functioning of the factory. Since, the wood is not availble in Govt. lands and as there are certain legal obstructions for procurement of wood in Agency Area, the Mandal Revenue Officer, Y.Ramavaram and Maredumilli are requested to take-up survey for identifying the soft and hard wood available in private lands urgently. The Managing Director, Godavari Plywoods Ltd., has also informed that he would send the Project Report very soon regarding offering of incentives etc., to the Private pattadars.

After receipt of the said Project report from the M.D. and after examining the same, It is decided to conduct of next meeting. Probably in the 3rd week of June with all pattadars. The Disr. Collector, East Godavari and the Dist. Forest Officer will also be invited for the meeting to be convened so.

Finally, the Mandal Revenue Officer, Y.Ramavaram and Maredumilli were once again requested to take up the survey by forming teams urgently for identifying the various trees available in private lands.

Sd/- B.Rajasekhar
PROJECT OFFICER
I.T.D.A.
RAMPACHODAVARM

Ref.No.22937/99-D2 Office of the Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests
Dt.24-5-1999. Andhra Pradesh, Aranya Bhavan, Hyderabad.

Sri S.D.Mukherji,I.F.S.,
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests

Sub:- Timber supplies to Godavari Plywoods Limited as per G.O.Ms, No.66 dt.24.04.'96 - Inordinate delays that have crippled the chances of revival of GPL under BIFR package dt.05.01.'95.

Ref:- Lr.Dt.22.5.'99 of Chairman & Managing Director, M/s.GPL.

***

A copy of the representation cited of the Chairman & Managing Director, M/s. GPL is enclosed. M/s.GPL in their representation requested:-

1. for considering supply of timber from the patta lands in E.G.Dist.

2. for supply of teak from matured teak plantations of Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam and Khammam Circles and silver oak from Visakhapatnam district.

3. for supply of timber from Kota and Pullngi Forest Blocks of Kakinada Division.

The above issues were discussed on 24.5.1999 by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forrests with the Conservator of Forests, Rajahmundry and Sri N.Venkaiah, Chairman & Managing Director, M/s.Godavari Plywoods Limited, Rampachodavaram. As per the discussions held, the concerned Conservator of Forests are requested to furnish
information as follows:

1. Availability of timber in patta lands in East Godavari District:

The Conservator of Forests Rajahmundry is requested to examine the legality of the patta lands furnished by M/s.Godavari Plywoods Limited. If the patta is legal, it is to be examined whether the Pattadar has right over the tree growth and if so, whether the trees can be disposed off or allotted to the Plywood Industry. The extent of such availability of Plywood timber with details of pattas and pattedars be furnished Mandal-wise. The operation of Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Area Act and Forest Conservation Act in such areas may also be examined.

2. Availability of teak timber in Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam & Khammam circles:

M/s Godavari Plywoods Limited is requesting for allotment of 3,000 cmt per annum of teak timber from the teak plantations of the these Circles. The Conservators of Forest may work-out details of timber available per annum from the matured plantations from the year 1999-2000 on wards and submit a working scheme.

Regarding silver oak timber the Conservator of Forests, Rajahmundry and the Conservator of Forests, Visakhapatnam are requested to furnish year-wise details of the availability of such plantations and timber that can be obtained from such plantations from 1999-2000 onwards with a working scheme.

3. Allotment of timber from Kota & Pullangi forest blocks:

As the Chief Conservator of Forests (Central) after causing inspections has not agreed for extraction of plywood material from these blocks in the interest of conservation/ preservation of forests, no further action can be taken.

The Conservator of Forests, Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry and Khammam Circles are requested to furnish the above information of their areas by 15.6.1999. The Chairman & Managing Director, M/s Godavari Plywoods Limited has been requested to furnish copies of the specifications of plywood material to the concerned Conservator of Forests directly for facilitating in the estimation of the availability of the plywood material.

Sd/- S.D.MUKHERJI

PRL.CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS

To

The Conservators of Forests of Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam & Khammam Circles.

Copy to the Chairman & Managing Director, M/s. Godavari Plywoods Limited, "NALAMOTHU HOUSE" 6.3.1186/1, Greenlands Road, Begumpet, Hyderabad 500 016. He is requested to furnish the copy of the recent specifications of Plywood material to the concerned Conservators of Forests. He is requested to approach Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, A.P.Forest Development Corporation regarding allotment of Silver Oak sale from A.P.Forest Development Corporation areas.