CM Sukhu, while chairing the 215th Board of Directors meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation (HPSFDC) on Monday, emphasized the adoption of modern technology to enhance the Corporation’s efficiency and transparency.
The Chief Minister directed officials to install CCTV cameras at all timber go-downs of the Corporation to ensure better monitoring and oversight. He also instructed the board to explore the feasibility of establishing a bamboo processing factory in the Gagret area of Una district. The initiative, he said, would help provide remunerative prices to bamboo growers across Una, Kangra, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur districts, thus boosting rural income and self-reliance.
In a move to ease operations for stakeholders, Sukhu called for the integration of National Transit Passes (NTP) into the Corporation’s system, facilitating smoother movement and documentation for forest produce.
Highlighting the Corporation’s financial performance, the Chief Minister noted that HPSFDC recorded a turnover of ₹289.91 crore in 2024–25 from timber, rosin, and turpentine oil sales, with a net profit of ₹14.93 crore. This reflects an increase over the ₹267 crore turnover and ₹7.88 crore profit posted in 2023–24. Additionally, the Corporation collected ₹41.30 crore in royalty from silviculture felling.
The meeting was attended by Vice Chairman Kehar Singh Khachi, Board Members, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HOFF) Samir Rastogi, Managing Director Sanjay Sood, and other senior officials.
