The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Project to protect sandalwood trees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 04, 2008
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Project to protect sandalwood trees

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Project Sandalwood, a plan to safeguard the State’s most iconic tree, will be launched where saplings will be planted in protected areas and later in a few villages where the residents will take care of the trees for a price.

Announcing this at the inauguration of the Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation (KSHDC) exhibition in Jayanagar here on Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary Neeraja Rajkumar said the plan was taking shape in view of the depleting supply of sandalwood.

The aroma of sandalwood and the dark elegance of rosewood will soon pervade Mumbai when KSHDC opens its outlet, Cauvery, in that metropolis.

The corporation is looking at Pondicherry, Tirupati and Puttaparthi also to set up its Cauvery emporiums. At present, there are 12 Cauvery outlets.

KSHDC, which has been posting a profit for the last three years, had a sales turnover of Rs. 36.81 crore during 2006-07, netting a profit of Rs. 3.2 crore.

Ms. Rajkumar said sandalwood artisans, experts in carving deities, could also incorporate modernity in their work in view of the changing market needs. Either way, the artefacts command a premium considering they are handmade.

The exhibition, on till January 14, is sponsored by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Union Ministry of Textiles. It is being organised for the uplift of backward tribes under the scheme, “Kaigarika Vikasa”.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka