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

A Royal Advisory Councillor said that although the Rules governing allotment
of concessional timber for house construction in rural areas has been
recommended and approved by the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet, it is
only natural that some problems would be encountered during actual
implementation in the field. The Councillor also pointed out that while the
allotted timber would be more than enough for construction of houses in other
architectural designs, it would not be sufficient for the traditional Bhutanese
houses which require a lot of timber and wood work.
As pointed out by the Agriculture Minister, if the timber allotted to the people
were sold, it would generate substantial revenue but the government has
foregone this income to make timber available to the people. He expressed
hope that the government would continue to do so in the future as it alone can
address the needs of the people.
The Councillor also submitted that while the Dzongkhag has the authority to
allot subsidized timber, the people have to spend a lot of time processing the
allotment from office to office, sometimes requiring travel to other Dzongkhag
before the allotment is given. It should be made possible to get it from one’s
own Dzongkhag. On the matter of allotment of shingles, the Councillor
pointed out that there should be a difference in allotment in line with the
altitude as the shingles in high altitude areas like Haa and Bumthang would
last for a far longer time than in the lower and warmer areas where the shingles
may need to be replaced in a year or two. If possible the timber allotment for
renovation and the royalties may be considered for further relaxation.
The Assembly noted the Punakha Chimi’s submission of problems and
difficulties faced by the people with the implementation of the Bhutan Forest
and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan and its Rules, which govern the
concessional timber allotment for renovations as well as the processing of the
allotment. Submissions have been made by other Chimi to express similar
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