Forest dept claim on Manipur timber stock bogus

IMPHAL, February 6: In sharp contrast to the claims of state forest officials that the state has a stock of 31000 cubic metre timbers at different timber depots yet to be disposed, the Public Account's Committee (PAC) of the Manipur state legislative Assembly which conducted an aerial survey of some major timber depots yesterday and today found that the present stock of timber would be less than one third of the quantity claimed by the forest officials, according to reliable sources. The PAC team today conducted aerial survey of the timber depot at Kamjong in Ukhrul district. Earlier yesterday, the team had conducted survey of three depots in Chandel district. According to the sources, when the incredulous PAC team inquired of the quantity of the stock which appeared much lesser than that stated by forest officials, the concerned forest officials explained that there were more stocks in dense forests. However, when the PAC team preferred to have a look of the stocks, the concerned forest officials refused to co-operate with them on the ostensible reasons of security and bad condition of the tracks, the sources said. The six-member PAC team was led by its chairman O Joy, MLA, and included the accountant general, principal chief conservator of forests and inspector general (ops).