THE Punjab government on Wednesday exempted the existing wood-based industries from obtaining NoC from district magistrates. The order would benefit 6,000 wood-based units. This was disclosed by Tikshan Sud, forest minister, Punjab. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by Supreme Court has allowed licences for 6,000 units in the state. Mr Sud said that district forest officers have been directed to issue licences to existing wood-based units (approved by CEC) without insisting NoC from district magistrates. “The Punjab government is committed to promote wood-based industry to help farmers in getting good return for their farm grown wood and advancement of crops diversification. It was with lot of efforts that the Punjab government obtained permission for licensing these 6,000 wood-based units. All these units were facing lot of problems in getting NoC from district magistrates that was pre-requisite for issuing of licence under existing procedures.” said Mr Sud. The Punjab forest department has decided to withdraw this condition in public interest with the concurrence of the CEC. The minister said that besides providing huge relief to these 6,000 units, this decision would give a boost to employment generation in these units and also help the state in generation of extra revenue through taxes that had diminished due to closure of this industry.