To avoid any anomalies, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena made it clear at a Forest Corporation board meeting on Wednesday that wood lots should only be auctioned online. He made it clear that severe measures would be taken if any carelessness or anomalies were discovered at any level. He also ordered the fast resolution of enquiries into issues involving corporate officials and staff.

The minister acknowledged the Forest Corporation officials’ efforts to get forest certification at the meeting and congratulated them on their certification from the Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF) and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). According to him, the company’s wood will have a distinctive character thanks to this accreditation, which will boost sales.

The corporation’s managing director, KK Singh, expressed concerns during the meeting about the lack of officials and staff, pointing out that only 25% of the authorised posts were filled. The minister directed that appropriate recruiting processes be followed in order to fill the positions as quickly as feasible.

Additionally, Dr. Saxena revealed the success of tendu leaf sales and underlined the need to increase ecotourism programs. For the last two years, the Forest Corporation has turned a profit. In order to speed up development, the minister also suggested holding board meetings on a weekly basis instead of an annual one.

Several officials attended the conference, including Sanjay Pathak, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ram Kumar, and Additional Managing Director Ashish Tiwari.