1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

from other parts of the country who have bought land to construct houses and
therefore, not eligible for concessional timber. However, those constructing
houses within 1 to 3 kilometers radius of townships but have lived in the
locality for generations are allotted concessional timber and this is clearly
reflected in the Rules.
With regard to the submission that the two year period given for extracting the
allotted timber be increased, the Minister pointed out that the time period has
been fixed after the government carefully considered the time that would be
taken to process the allotment, mark, cut, debark and transport the timber.
However, if the time period is inadequate and the people have problems with
it, it could be extended further. Similarly, on the issue that the time period of
30 years before the next allotment of timber for house construction being too
long, the Minister explained that the time period has been fixed at 30 years in
view of the fact that even in the past, Bhutanese houses have stood stand for
atleast a minimum of 30 years. In keeping with the development in the
country, it has become possible now to make houses stronger than ever before.
In adequate timber to meet their requirements for construction of residential
houses. It is being submitted by the people that the timber allotment is not
adequate and that they have difficulties related to it. However, it must be kept
in mind that the Rules and the policy have been implemented for less than a
year and these submissions are being made without proper and in depth
understanding of the Rules and policy. If the Rules are properly and clearly
understood, most of these related problems would be addressed and clarified.
The Rules and policy approved by the Lhengye Zhungtshog has been
implemented only for a short while and it would be too premature to revise the
Rules in less than a year of implementation. The Minister submitted that
therefore, the Assembly may endorse the implementation of the Rules and
policy by the Ministry of Agriculture for sometime and if the problems persist
in future, the onus would be on the Government to review and revise them.
164