TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Chari Samaj has alleged that the Forest Department harasses them when they install any wood working machinery at their workshops.
In a memorandum to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar the Samaj stated, “…It is quite disgusting to see that Goan professional like us are prevented from increasing our business and harassed by the Forest Department when we install any wood working machinery at our workshop.”
“Unscrupulous traders from other states set up their illegal furniture shops by the roadside, right under the nose of the forest department, who do not pay any tax causing a revenue loss to the government are allowed to do all kinds of illegal business,” the memorandum observes.
Alleging that those traders from other states are allowed to do all kinds of illegal business and they are heavily affecting their traditional business due to the “…illegalities committed by them, bringing a bad reputation to the whole business of carpentry.”
The Charis are basically artisans who traditionally work as carpenters and make furniture out of different types of wood and plywood/laminates.
“When we go for obtaining a business license for our carpentry workshop the forest department does not issue a NOC saying that the SC has banned all new wood based business,” the memorandum alleged, adding that when we investigated about the ban order they found that the Supreme Court order is applicable only to any new establishment of saw mills and plywood manufacturing industry and accused department officials of indirectly violating our basic human rights to survive.