Forest dept to simplify rules for growing sandalwood trees on pvt lands

Time of India

2 days ago

Mysuru: With a view to encouraging farmers to grow sandalwood trees, the Karnataka forest department is contemplating simplifying rules to grow them on private lands, said forest minister Eshwar Khandre.
Thanking Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) for distributing Suraksha kits containing a jacket, bag, and a pair of boots to forest watchers, forest guards, and elephant handlers under its CSR funds at an event at the KSOU auditorium here, the minister said the govt would make a decision in this regard within a week or two.
In response to KSDL's request for support in growing more sandalwood trees on forest lands, Khandre replied positively, stating he would discuss it with forest officers and communicate with them.
He also suggested approaching the revenue department, noting that there are many abandoned lands that can be utilised for this purpose.
Earlier, KSDL chairman Appaji C S Nadagouda, an MLA, proposed to the forest department to have a memorandum of understanding to grow sandalwood trees on forest land, suggesting that they would bear the cost of growing provided they're given the land. KSDL would then buy the mature sandalwood trees from the forest department.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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He claimed sandalwood production declined over the decades and expressed the need for a policy to increase production. The chairman said that more than 90% of their products made of sandalwood are in demand without any marketing. About 82% of sales happen outside Karnataka, he said.
KSDL reserved Rs 7 crore under CSR funds, of which Rs 2 crore was utilised to provide Suraksha Kits to nearly 10,000 forest personnel at the grassroots, including about 2,100 in the Mysuru forest division.
On the occasion, the chairman also revealed plans to expand its business and increase its revenue to Rs 3,000 crore in the next few years. In the previous fiscal year, KSDL earned about Rs 410 crore in revenue.
Minister Khandre also appreciated wildlife photographer and minister MB Patil's son, Dhruv Patil, who is also a member of the State Wildlife Board, for his concern towards forest watchers and guards.
Minister for large and medium industries and infrastructure development MB Patil remembered Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on his birth anniversary and for his vision of setting up sandalwood soap industries a century ago, in 1916.
He said Mysuru sandal products are popular worldwide.
KSDL team to visit Australia
KSDL officers, led by its chairman Nadagouda, will be visiting Australia to study the strategies adopted to grow more sandal trees. "Australia has been successfully producing sandal trees, and we want to study it and how successful they have been in making byproducts. The team will leave for Australia next week," he said.
MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah and senior Karnataka forest officers, including PCCF (wildlife) Subash Malkhede and PCCF Kumar Pushakar, were present.