India, Jan. 28 -- India's paper industry says access to forest land alone will not guarantee raw material supply

State governments will decide how plantations are approved and implemented under the new rules

Distance from mills, soil quality and land size are key to commercial viability

Competition from other wood-based industries could limit fibre availability for paper producers

The success of plantations will depend on execution, safeguards and local governance

The recent amendment to India's forest conservation law has opened the door for commercial plantations on forest land, a move the pulp and paper industry has long sought as a response to chronic raw material shortages.

The amendment to the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) ...