Climate changes hitting forests, says Dhumal

SHIMLA: Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Friday claimed that there was only incidental loss to the state government, if any, because of trees dying in forests due to climatic, physiological and edaphic factors.
He said wherever economical and workable lots could be made out these trees were being exploited and extracted every year through the HP State Forest Development Corporation.
Replying to a question by Rajesh Dharmani (Cong) during question hour, he said that other trees, which could not be used for timber purpose, were being given to the local people for their personal use. He said the Supreme Court of India in its order dated February 14, 2000, had prohibited the removal of dead, drying and diseased trees from national parks and wildlife sanctuary areas.
Dhumal answered Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's (Cong) question said it was natural that in the state where there were over 12 lakh electricity consumers there would be quite a few faulty meters.