Eleven months after the devastating earthquake, the government has made it possible for underprivileged families in 31 quake-affected districts to get timber free of cost.

The rules endorsed last week say the community forestry user groups can provide timber for those identified as “underprivileged” in their respective districts. According to the guidelines prepared by the Forest Ministry to facilitate the rebuilding process, community forests are considered as a major source of timber for their users and those who live nearby. Timber from fallen, matured and deformed trees from collaborative, public and private forests would also be supplied to the homeless. The wood that may be extracted from a particular forest is between 25 and 50 percent of the total annual production.

“The approval of guidelines for implementation will now help in full-fledged collection and utilisation of timber for the reconstruction of houses and infrastructure destroyed by the April Earthquake and its aftershocks,” said Pashupati Koirala, planning officer at the ministry.

In order to make supply smooth, the government has decided to set up timber depots in all the affected districts. A seven-member management committee would be formed under the Chief District Officer in each district to coordinate, cut and supply timber, and to monitor the operation of the depots.