Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Thursday emphasised on the need of Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) diversifying its activities in wake of challenges currently being faced the corporation on different fronts.
“The diversification should happen in forestry-related fields such as conservation of bio-diversity, agro and farm forestry plantation, development of eco-tourism, processing of minor forest produce with the active involvement of the local people. OFDC must provide a platform to tribal and other forest dwellers to sell minor produce items profitably,” Mr. Patnaik said while addressing the golden jubilee celebration of the OFDC here.
“OFDC has to reach to doorstep of people to provide one-stop solution for requirement of timber, firewood, and bamboo. This will not only meet the house building requirement of people but also check illicit removal of timber, firewood and bamboo from our forests,” he said.
The Chief Minister said since the OFDC was a profit-making organisation, it should come forward to work for development of weaker sections of society, particularly the scheduled tribe and other traditional forest dwellers as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Speaking on the occasion, Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray said as the OFDC was now debt free and profit-making, it has to promote farm forestry and agro forestry to fulfil the requirement of timber and firewood as well as to protect environment.
Starting with a modest turnover of Rs. 15 lakh in 1962, its turnover increased to Rs. 482 crore in 2011-12. OFDC generated a non-tax and tax revenue to the tune of Rs. 257.28 crore during 2011-12 which includes royalty on timber, Kendu leaf, bamboo, FDT, VAT, and entry tax. OFDC Managing Director S.S. Srivastava said the corporation recently diversified into trade of Kendu leaf, plantation, rubber, cashew, minor forest produces and ecotourism while timber working continues to be the core business. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P.N. Padhi also spoke.
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