The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Government to earn huge revenue through red sander sale

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 25, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Government to earn huge revenue through red sander sale

By A.D. Rangarajan

S.K. Das, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

TIRUPATI, AUG. 24. Mounds of red sanders piling up in forest godowns are to be liquidated soon, earning crores of rupees for the exchequer.

As a two-pronged strategy, the Government is contemplating to sell off the mounds of the redwood lying in forest godowns. By this, it not only hopes to clear the stock, but also meet the international demand and curb felling of trees in future.

In an exclusive interview to The Hindu , the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, S.K. Das, has said that the process has started and the modalities are being worked out.

"We have received a communication from the Chief Minister's office to expedite the process,'' he said.

Prevention of smuggling

Red sander smuggling is done every other day in Chittoor and Cuddapah districts. The department has identified three major steps to prevent smuggling of the timber.

Besides bringing down the demand by selling off the wood, the other two are to develop the fringe villages to wean the residents away from felling trees and to enhance surveillance by augmenting its anti-smuggling wing.

The demand for red sanders abroad has been estimated at a whopping 300 tonnes a year, which is smuggled from Chennai to Japan via Singapore.

Though there is a story that the wood is being used in Japan for centuries to make a musical instrument `Samosin' , which is presented to newly-wed couples, there are not many takers for this.

The wood is endemic to just two lakh hectares in the entire world in Seshachalam ranges of India and a "centuries-old'' tradition cannot depend on a wood known to them only in recent times.

An unconfirmed version making rounds is that it is used as a coolant in nuclear reactors, which is perhaps why the South East Asian nations are a preferred destination for the wood.

To stem the rot, the department is working out plans to develop fringe villages by improving water and providing employment.

It is the commoner who fells the tree and supplies the timber to Chennai-based brokers who, in turn, sell the same for a lucrative price to parties abroad. It is precisely why the villager has been identified as the `primary smuggler'.

On the other front, Mr. Das said that a 40-km road between Talakona and Balapalle (Cuddapah dt.), considered a hub of anti-social activities would be laid and watchtowers erected at vantage points and near water spots.

As the Seshachalam plateau has no major habitation, smugglers sneak into the forest and stay there for days together on their `mission'. A sum of Rs.50 lakhs was sanctioned recently for road network.''

Guards at risk

However, the terribly under-staffed department wants a guard to patrol several square kilometres a day with a small sickle in hand.

It may be noted that a guard was attacked in retaliation by a group of thugs in Rajampet division, which reflects their increasing exposure to risk. Further, the average age of a forest guard is 50 years.

The department is expected to focus on these aspects as part of its ambitious plan to protect the precious wood.

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