Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which came under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has removed the ban on timber in the construction of buildings and habitat projects. The use of timber in the CPWD projects had been banned in 1993 and now after a gap of over 25 years, the agency has ended this ban. “The MoEFCC has asked to remove the ban on the use of wood in construction, since it will create demand for wood-based industries that would spur the local economy, particularly in rural areas, create large scale employment and encourage farmers and others to bring degraded areas under tree cover that, in turn, will augment production of a multitude ecosystem services for the benefit of the country,” the CPWD said in an office memorandum.
The CPWD is the government’s largest construction agency and it executes major projects of the Centre as well as the state governments. The CPWD also looks after the maintenance of central government buildings and erecting fences on the country’s international borders, among others. The decision to revoke the ban came after the Union Environment ministry asked the department to remove the ban, saying it will create demand for wood-based industries that would spur the local economy and create large scale employment.
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