Karnataka - Bangalore   

Artefacts unit raided, sandalwood seized

BANGALORE: The Forest Department on Saturday raided a popular artefacts factory at Kadugodi and recovered sandalwood and teakwood logs illegally kept there. Later, the department officials went to the showroom on M.G. Road and sealed it.

A team of forest officials led by Deputy Conservator of Forests Vanashree Vipin Singh and Assistant Conservator of Forests B. Jayaram raided the factory of Natesan’s Antiqarts and recovered sandalwood and teakwood worth Rs. 24 lakh, besides 11 teakwood statues. They arrested Balasubramanium, supervisor of the factory, and seized the lorry in which the sandalwood and teakwood logs were brought.

The department officials said Natesan’s had not maintained proper records of sandalwood, an offence under the Forest Act. Ms. Singh said the property marks on sandalwood logs needed to be registered every year with the department. A register explaining the extent of use of the sandalwood logs should be maintained.

The sandalwood logs, which were brought to the factory in August 2006 from Tamil Nadu forests, did not have property marks, and moreover they were brought illegally as the factory had no valid licence, Ms. Singh said.

The department has registered cases against the owners of the showroom under the Forest Act 1963 and the Karnataka Forest Rules 1969. The department has sealed the factory also.

Last month, a CID Forest Cell team raided Natesan’s Indiranagar showroom and seized an ivory statuette from the premises. Cases were booked against the owner, Natesan, and his son.

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