A big step has been taken by the state government to establish wood based industries in the state and to provide more and more opportunities for self-employment to the wood craftsmen. Forest Minister Dr. Vijay Shah has described the amendment made in section 4 of Madhya Pradesh Wood Chiran (Regulation) Act 1984 as historic.
Forest Minister Dr. Shah said that after the amendment made in the Act, wood based commercial activities will increase, due to which the government will get value addition and additional revenue from GST. Farmers in the private sector will be encouraged to take up plantation and their income will also increase. He said that 30 percent of the state is forest land, in which the state government gets income of 800 crores and GST of 160 crores along with employment to forest dwellers due to wood production activities.
After the amendment in Section-4 of the Wood Regulation Act, it will no longer be necessary to obtain a license for a circular saw machine with a diameter of less than 30 cm. Small craftsmen will not need a license from the Forest Department to use wood in finishing and fashioning. Industries using salvaged wood, cane, bamboo, plywood, veneer or imported wood will not require a license. Also, the processing plants will be allowed to take license after the changes made in this Act.