Timber needs for tsunami victims' houses discussed
 

BY FLORENCE Wickramage

TIMBER requirements for construction of permanent houses for tsunami victims was discussed at a meeting at the State Timber Corporation Head Office with officials of the Task Force for Rehabilitation of the Nation, Tsunami House Reconstructions Unit, State Timber Corporation, Non-Governmental Organisations involved with Tsunami House Reconstruction programmes and Lanka Timber Merchants Association representatives.

It was decided that timber which has a density of above 640 kg. per. cubic metre were most suitable. Timber available locally for structural construction were Eucalyptus Microcorys, Kumbuk, Palu, Milla, Wewarana, Mee and Hora.

The State Timber Corporation gave specifications for requirements for permanent houses for tsunami constructions to NGOs and timber merchants since the Corporation is unable to supply the entire stock of timber required for permanent construction having access only to Eucalyptus.

The meeting also discussed exemptions and concessions given to NGOs help in reconstruction. It was decided that the NGOs given VAT exemptions could pass them to suppliers of their choice with Urban Development Authority approval.

Duty Waivers and other concessions, storage and transport facilities, permits for transporting timber and other issues were also discussed.

The specifications for imported timber prepared by the State Timber Corporation and the Treasury Circulars were distributed among participants.

It was decided that continuous monitoring of the programme was important.