Online Timber Transit Permit System, Odisha

Procedure for obtaining Transit Permit for timber and other Forest Produce in the state of Odisha

Fresh Transit Permit Application:(FORM-III)

The Transit of timber and other forest produce in the State of Odisha is taken up as per the Orissa Timber and Other Forest Produce Transit Rules, 1980. In case of transport of timbers, it is required to apply before cutting of trees so that tree cutting permission will be given to ensure a transit pass for lifting from stump site to the destination. Even though permission is not required for tree cutting only but to ensure a Transit Permit, tree cutting stump verification is required for issue of a Transit Pass. In case of institution, it is required to take up 10 times the number of tree to be replanted by the Agency in Government land / road side in consultation with the concerned Divisional Forest officers or else to be carried out through Odisha Forest Development Corporation by depositing the amount for the replanting programme.

As per Rule, a Transit Permit will be issued either for a fresh application for the standing trees or a in lieu permit against a transit permit earlier issued for logs/ timbers. In case of earlier one, Form III is the application form whereas in case of in lieu permit Form II is the application form to apply a Transit Permit. In case of an application for Transit Permit in Form III, three stages are followed for issue of final Transit permit as per Rule with a specific time limit.

Stage -1 Timber Transit Permit Application & Tree Felling N.O.C

Any Individual / Institution desirous of tree removal of the standing trees need to apply without any fee in Form No.III to the Divisional Forest Officer under whose jurisdiction the land in question for removal of trees.
The DFO will verify the application with respect to the Checklist of documents submitted by the applicant about the land records and the number of trees to be removed.
The DFO will forward the application to the concerned Tahasildar and Forest Range Officer for a joint verification on the site about the location, ownership of land and tree details thereof.
The Tahasildar will examine the land records and will decide an officer for joint verification and inform to the DFO about the programme.

Inspection Procedure for Tree Felling NOC:

The joint verification by Revenue and Forest Officials will be conducted on the decided date and a report will be prepared to be sent to DFO concerned either by Range Officer or by Tahasildar. This inspection will be taken up by the Forest and Revenue officials jointly under whose jurisdiction the area is assigned so as to justify the ownership of the land in favour of the applicant by the Revenue officials and the number of trees available with measurement by the Forest Officials.
If the DFO finds any discrepancy on the joint verification report, he or the Assistant Conservator of Forests will conduct a test check within seven days from the date of receipt of the intimation from the applicant regarding removal of discrepancy, or from the date of joint verification showing no discrepancy, as the case may be. If the test check is not completed within stipulated period, it shall be deemed to have been done with no discrepancy found.
The test check on joint verification should not involve the officer/s who were earlier assigned for joint verification.

Inspection Checklist for Tree Felling NOC:

Verification of Land Records with regard to ownership and application received.
Field demarcation as per the land records accepted by Revenue Authority in favour of the land owner i.e. applicant
Boundary verification by Revenue and Forest Officials
Verification of species, girth and height of each tree as per application.

The DFO will issue No Objection by allowing tree cutting and to take up the conversion in favour of the applicant.

Checklist for the Timber Transit Permit Application & Tree Felling NOC:

Form- III application duly filled in
Land Record – A) Patta, B) Latest Rent Receipt, C) Copy of sketch Map,
Legal heir certificate in case of applicant is different from the name mentioned in the patta.
Affidavit of legal heirs about No Objection for allowing applicant to apply for removal of tree.

“NOTE: PLEASE NOTE THAT, NO FEE WILL BE LEVIED FOR ACCORDING THE TREE FELLING PERMISSION (NOC) ONLINE.”

Stage-2 Property Hammer Registration & conversion list submission

The applicant will take up the tree felling with conversion into logs.
A serial number of all the logs converted from a tree will be numbered separately showing the tree number and the log number in each log.
The log numbers will be mentioned numerically in ascending order from stump to the maximum height of the tree.
Marking of tree no. will be made at stump and in each log. The logs will be marked with additional number along with tree serial No.
All the logs are to be kept on the stump site and not to be shifted away from the stump for field verification before issue of T.T. Permit.
The applicant will apply for a property hammer Registration by depositing a fee of Rs.5/- which will be valid upto July of that year or deposit Rs.10/- which will be valid upto three years ending 31st July of third year. In case of transit permit in lieu of Foreign Transit Permit of outside the state Rs.10/- will be deposited to be valid for one year.
The applicant will prepare a conversion list of logs and firewood (In stacks of 12'x3'x3' or 6'x3'x3' size) and submit to the DFO in the performa mentioned.
The DFO will approve the Property Hammer Registration and communicate to the Range Officer/ applicant for necessary authentication on the ground.
On approval of Property Hammer, the applicant will impress the hammer in all the logs so as to ensure future authentication.
The DFO will authorize an officer for verification of logs at stump site as per the conversion list submitted by the applicant and furnish his report.
The DFO will authorize an officer for issue of T.T. Permit.

Checklist for application:

Hammer Description (letters or pictures about description)
Facsimile (Specimen impression)
Online payment

Stage-3 Submission of Forest Produce , vehicle detail & Issue of T.T. Permit

The applicant will prepare the list of logs and firewood etc need for transportation to the destination decided by him.
He will apply with a list in an application as per the Checklist.
The authorized officer will issue T.T. Permit in Form I in favour of the applicant for the logs to be transported in different vehicles and different dates of the logs as per the stump site verification received from the officer entrusted earlier during Stage 2.

Checklist for application:

Name of the applicant
Description of the produce:
1. Serial No. with measurement
2. Quantity
Name of the Driver,
Vehicle Number,
Transportation details :
1. Starting location,
2. Destination,
3. Route (Intermediary important location)
Date of Transport

“NOTE: PLEASE NOTE THAT, NO FEE WILL BE LEVIED FOR ACCORDING THE TREE TRANSIT PERMISSION.”

Application for issue of in-lieu Transit Permit:(FORM-II)

Any Individual / Institution desirous of transporting logs, timbers or other forest produce from the existing points having documents about its authenticity with regard to previous transit permit and / or conversion taken up by authorized Saw Mill need to apply in Form –II to the Divisional Forest Officer under whose jurisdiction the land in question for transportation of logs/ timbers/ forest produce.
The DFO will verify the application with respect to the Checklist of documents submitted by the applicant about the genuineness of the forest produce present on the site and ask for a field verification by an officer authorized by the DFO.
On receipt of the verification report, the DFO will issue order by authorizing an Officer for issue of T.T. Permit.
In case of sale and change of ownership, the new owner has to take up the Property hammer registration as per procedure laid down in Stage 2 of first application mentioned above.
The applicant will follow the procedure for applying Transit Permit stating the details of the forest produce with vehicle No., Name of Driver, transportation details and date of transport as applicable in Stage 3 of the original application.
The authorized officer will issue T.T. Permit in Form I in favour of the applicant for the logs/ timbers/ forest produce to be transported in different vehicles and different dates as per the verification received from the officer entrusted earlier in Stage 2.

Checklist for application:

Form II – Application form duly filled in.
Certified copy of the document regarding ownership of the produce.
(a) Previous Transit Permit,
(b) Conversion of timber, if it is made from a authorized Saw Mill,
(c) Sale deed / Money Receipt, if sale is made to other person.
(d) Deposit of Tax and copy of the receipt.

Sl. No.	Relevant Section under OT & OFP Transit (Amendment) Rules II, 2017	Particulars with time frame
1	Rule 7 (8)(b)(1)	On receipt of the application the D.F.O. shall scrutinize it and send one copy thereof to the concerned Tahasildar within 2 days of such receipt for joint verification of the field.
2	Rule 7 (8)(c)(1)	On receipt of copy of such application from the Divisional Forest Officer, the Tahasildar shall examine the matter with reference to the records and intimate to the D.F.O. within a period of 2 days of such receipt authorizing an officer not below the rank of Revenue Supervisor, if the Tahasildar himself cannot participate in the joint verification, to attend the joint verification.
3	Rule 7 (8)(d)(1)	On receipt of intimation from the Tahasildar, the DFO shall fix Department Officials, and intimate the same to the Tahasildar. The Assistant Conservator of Forests or the Range Officer as may be duly authorized by the DFO in that behalf shall take up the joint verification. The Tahasildar or the Revenue Supervisor authorized by him shall attend the joint verification on the date fixed by the DFO. The applicant shall bear the Amin fees if any, for requisitioning the services of the Amin for the office of the Tahasildar for the purpose of joint verification the exercise of joint verification shall include complete joint verification with reference to the village map and Record-of-rights to determine in the field the boundaries of each of the plots and also the boundary of the adjoining forest block, if any. It will also include the enumeration of the trees and bamboos standing in each plot and verifying the ownership of the plots in question with reference to the Record-of-rights and by local enquiries. In case of the application for removal of bamboos, the joint verification shall include complete verification of such bamboos (counting of existing bamboos). In respect of firewood, joint verification shall include estimation of firewood from lops and tops. A detailed enumeration list in triplicate and map of the surveyed area shall be appended to the joint verification. The report of joint verification and enumeration of trees and bamboos standing on the plots as mentioned in the application for transit permit shall be submitted jointly by the concerned officials to the Tahasildar, who will thereupon forward the same after necessary scrutiny at his level to the DFO. After necessary scrutiny, the DFO will communicate the result of joint verification to the applicant. The whole process of conducting the joint verification and communicating the results thereof to the applicant should be completed within 21 days from the date of receipt of intimation from the Tahasildar.
4	Rule 7 (8)(e)(1)	In case of any discrepancy found in the joint verification report, the D.F.O. shall make specific order indicating reasons and shall intimate the same to the applicant within the same period as mentioned in Clause (d), who shall remove the discrepancy within two days of the receipt of the orders.
5	Rule 7 (8)(f)(1)	The DFO, if he considers expedient, may have a test check either by himself or through the Assistant Conservator of Forests, after obtaining necessary orders in that regard from the concerned Conservator of Forests. The rest check, if any, shall be completed within seven days from the date of receipt of the intimation from the applicant regarding removal of discrepancy, or from the date of joint verification showing no discrepancy, as the case may be. If the test check is not completed within stipulated period, it shall be deemed to have been done with no discrepancy found.
6	Rule 7 (8)(g)(1)	After completion of the joint verification or of the test check, if any, made, the D.F.O. shall direct the applicant to register his property hammer mark with him no deposit of the required fees which shall be done within two days.
7	Rule 7 (8)(i)(1)	The D.F.O. shall thereafter get the timber including round wood-billets branded with the Forest Department hammer mark bearing letter "P.T." within two days from the date of receipt of list referred to in Clause (h).
8	Rule 7 (8)(j)(1)	The applicant thereafter submit within a week a list in triplicate specifying the number, species, size of timber and/or quantity of fire-wood and / or quantity of other forest produce proposed to be removed. Within four days of receipt of the documents, the DFO or the Assistant Conservator of Forests authorized in that behalf, as the case may be shall, after proper verification of the documents allow removal of the timber/ fire-wood/ other forest produce by issue of the required timber transit permit.
9	Rule 7 (8)(k)(1)	On day of actual removal of timber / fire-wood/ other forest produce, the applicant shall inform in writing to the authority granting permit, the vehicle number and route in which the removal is to be made.

Procedure for obtaining Transit Permit for timber and other Forest Produce in the state of Odisha

Fresh Transit Permit Application:(FORM-III)

Stage -1 Timber Transit Permit Application & Tree Felling N.O.C

“NOTE: PLEASE NOTE THAT, NO FEE WILL BE LEVIED FOR ACCORDING THE TREE FELLING PERMISSION (NOC) ONLINE.”

Stage-2 Property Hammer Registration & conversion list submission

Stage-3 Submission of Forest Produce , vehicle detail & Issue of T.T. Permit

“NOTE: PLEASE NOTE THAT, NO FEE WILL BE LEVIED FOR ACCORDING THE TREE TRANSIT PERMISSION.”

Application for issue of in-lieu Transit Permit:(FORM-II)

Odisha Timber and Other Forest Produce Transit (Amendment) Rules II, 2017 vide Government Notification No.10F(TR)-28/2016(PT)-19461/F&E dt.15.9.2017- insertion of time limit for online application in Section 7(8)