**Executive Summary**
This document presents amendments to the Tamil Nadu 2010 Rules for Regulating Wood Based Industries, as per Government Order (Ms.) No. 16, Environment and Forest (FR13) Department, dated February 7, 2020. It outlines changes to definitions, establishment of a state-level committee, and procedures for licensing and operating wood-based industries. The amendments aim to regulate the usage of wood and its distribution.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendments to Definitions (Rule 2):**
* "Forest Conservator" is expanded to include "Chief Forest Conservator or Additional Principal Chief Forest Conservator."
* A new definition for "Industrial Estate" is added, referring to areas notified by the government for establishing wood-based industries.
* "Principal Chief Forest Conservator" is redefined to mean the Head of Department.
* New definitions for "Log," "Saw Mill," and "Sawn Sizes" are added.
* "Committee" is defined as the state-level committee constituted under Rule 3-A.
* "Wood Based Industry" is redefined to include industries using wood as raw material, such as saw mills, plywood, veneer, etc.
* **Conditions for License Exemption (Rule 3):**
* Certain industries or operations not using indigenous logs or operating without specified machinery may be exempt from licensing. This includes those using sawn sizes, bamboo, cane, plywood, or imported wood, but these establishments need to register and follow guidelines.
* **Establishment of State-Level Committee (Rule 3-A):**
* The government will constitute a state-level committee for activities mentioned under Rule 3-B.
* The committee's composition includes the Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Chairman), representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and other officials.
* The committee should meet at least once every three months.
* The quorum for meetings is specified as no less than fifty percent excluding the chairman.
* The committee will invite an industry representative as a special invitee to each meeting.
* **Powers and Functions of the Committee (Rule 3-B):**
* Conduct studies on the demand and supply of wood, devise arrangements for sustainable wood usage, and make recommendations regarding licensing.
* Consider approving new wood-based industries or extending existing licenses.
* Ensure that funds recovered by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department from wood-based industries are used only for afforestation purposes.
* **Assessment of Wood Used by Industries (Rule 3-C):**
* Sawmills are categorized by horsepower for assessing wood requirements.
* Annual log requirements for different sawmill categories are defined, based on technical capabilities.
* **Amendments to Licensing (Rule 4):**
* No license will be granted to wood based industries without prior approval from the Committee.
* Re-numbering of sub-rules.
* A wood-based industry may be established in an industrial estate or municipal area regardless of distance from a protected forest.
* **Other Amendments (Rules 5, 6, 11, 12):**
* The phrase "subject to the approval of the Committee" is included in Rule 5 and Rule 6.
* Rule 11 is amended to require license transfer approval from the committee.
* Rule 12 is amended regarding appeals, adding that appeals against orders can be made to the government within sixty days.
* **Addition of Annexure:**
* A new annexure (as per Rule 3-C(2)) is added, regarding assessment of wood requirements, with a reference to the Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute (IPIRTI) in Bangalore, providing standards for assessing wood requirements in veneer and plywood units.
**Impact Analysis**
**Wood-Based Industries**
* **Impact:** Strict oversight on establishment, operation, and expansion.
* **Action Required:** Obtain prior approval from the State-Level Committee for licensing, license transfers, and relocation. Also, industries need to comply with wood usage standards and regulations for sustainable operation.
**Tamil Nadu Forest Department**
* **Impact:** Increased administrative responsibilities and oversight in regulating wood-based industries.
* **Action Required:** Implement and enforce the amended rules, assess wood requirements, and conduct regular inspections. Funds from the industries will need to be allocated for afforestation.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)**
* **Impact:** Increased involvement in the regulatory framework through its representative on the State-Level Committee.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the State-Level Committee meetings and contribute to policy decisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882: Governing law for forests in Tamil Nadu, amended here.
Tamil Nadu Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2010: Rules being amended concerning the regulation of wood-based industries.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests: Replaces 'Conservator of Forests' and expanded with additional responsibilities in these rules.
State Level Committee: A committee to be constituted by the Government to perform functions as specified under Section 3A.
Environment and Forests Department: The government department issuing the notification and responsible for the rules.