The latest trick: Carry a big stick


The latest trick: Carry a big stick

Stiff penalties to be imposed if timber is bought or sold over fixed price
Logging Regularised: The new dispensation will stop hoarding and start equitable distribution

Natural Resource Pricing Committee 11 January, 2011 - Both sawmillers and customers will be penalised if they sell or purchase timber above the price fixed by the natural resource pricing committee (NRPC).

This is the latest strategy of the department of forest and park services (DFPS) to curb the soaring timber price. While many strategies had been put in place to regulate the exorbitant timber price, DFPS officials say this time they mean business. A sawmiller will have to follow the price that came into effect in February 2010 (see table) and violators will be penalised, says official. A notification was circulated last week, which states that sawmillers and wood-based industries would be levied a 100 percent penalty on the approved price for the first offense, or a prison term equivalent to the value of the amount of fine imposed. “If detected for the second time, in addition to the first penalty, they’ll be barred once from participating in the timber allocation system,” states the notification. Violating for a third time would mean being barred from participation in future allotment (based on lucky dip system). The case would be forwarded to the economic ministry, with a recommendation to seize the business license. People purchasing timber above the fixed rate would be charged Nu 100 for every cft (cubic feet) purchased, or serve a prison term equivalent to the amount of fine imposed.

The decision was made, keeping in mind the huge shortage of timber and the shooting price even after the government had a fixed price, said an official. DFPS director Karma Dukpa said that the department did not have the legal backing to penalise people, who violated the price fixed by the committee. The forest rule did not have a provision on the legislation aspect on timber policy, he said. “Without legislation we couldn’t regulate and monitor,” he said. The director said that all possible aspects of making timber affordable for customers and profitable for sawmillers were looked into and the rule will be strictly implemented and monitored. The present system of allocating timber in log form (lucky dip system) was discussed and agreed upon by both sawmillers and wood-based industries, said the director. “This system will ensure that logs from the source are cheaper, because it isn’t an auction where price is determined by bidders, often flaunting the fixed floor price,” said karma Dukpa. The department had already warned the sawmillers about the new rule, and expects customers to cooperate in their effort to make timber affordable. “If customers cooperate and inform us on being charged higher than the fixed price, we can take action,” said the director. While sawmillers say that they are adhering to the rule, those in the timber and construction business say that it will be difficult to implement, as the rush for timber would drive the price up. “Only big contractors will reap the benefit. There should also be a ceiling for those buying timber from sawmills,” said a contractor, who is desperately looking for timber to complete his project.

201 Timber complain hotline

However, the director said that availability of timber would be better. He said that, unlike in the 1999 pricing policy, where logs were sold through auction and hoarded by sawmillers, timber allotted through the lucky dip system should be lifted and used within a month of the allotment. “If they fail, they’ll forfeit the timber and the earnest money deposited,” he said. The director said that all sawmills would get timber, as those unlucky at allotment would be given preference in the next draw. The department is also looking into supplying more timber to sawmillers and wood-based industries in log form. The production target has been increased from 1.9M cft in 2010 to 2.2M cft in 2011. “By 2013, we’ll target to increase it to 2. 5M cft,” said Karma Dukpa. By Ugyen Penjore

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For err... and ever

For err... and ever Yearender 5 February, 2011 - Kuensel newsroom employees could go broke in the year of the Rabbit. Errors made by the reporter, editor, copy editor and layout designer will be counted in cash. Factual errors and layout errors will cost Nu 100, typos and grammatical errors Nu 50 and headline errors Nu 200. With errors featuring in the paper day after day, year after year the news team felt that something drastic had to be done if it were to make an improvement. In the year of the tiger errors were as plenty and glaring as the stripes of the magnificent beast.One victim of the errors was access to facebook from office, the contagious social networking site. This came after an edition carried an incomplete story that had readers calling up gleefully to find out if a part two was in the pipeline. The next issue carried a rejoinder saying The following paragraphs were inadvertently deleted from the story.... The mistake, it was agreed happened, because facebook had dist...
Keep reading

Two constituencies made the difference

Image
Two constituencies made the difference Polling officers wait for voters in Bangtsho demkhong in Dewathang Thromde election 22 January, 2011 - It came as a big blow to him. He was already lagging behind and the loss from his own constituency just made it worse. The frowns on the forehead deepened. Karma was surprised as polling results poured into the counting centre. In the first polling result, he lost by a vote, and then the most shocking result came in from Samdrupgatshel, his own constituency. He had lost by seven votes. The third one came and there too he had lost.Then, I got a little worried because the gap was increasing, he recalled later as he shared his moments with a friend over telephone. Then the results from other two demkhongs in Dewathang came in and that was enough. He beat rival candidate Dechen Wangmo with 50 votes in Kibse and 28 votes in Bangtsho demkhongs.Karma explains why he lost from the constituency he stood from. Im not originally from that place and people d...
Keep reading

Ending the even and odd game

Ending the even and odd game 25 January, 2011 - If you intend to make a trip to Tashichhodzong or the offices in the vicinity starting today, you no longer have to go through the calendar and make sure it matches your vehicle registration number. The entry system formulated in a manner that even numbered vehicle could be accommodated in the so called dzong parking area on even dates and odd numbers on odd dates has been lifted. With an intention to ease vehicle congestion and for security purposes, the traffic division of Royal Bhutan Police had initiated the rule in April 2009. Traffic superintendent, Passang Dorji, said the rule was being lifted after the completion of a new parking area near Royal Civil Service Commission office. The move was made after a thorough study. Passang Dorji said the traffic conducted a physical study focusing on the number of parking areas in relation to the number of vehicles entering and exiting the location.On an average, about 220 vehicles were parked...
Keep reading