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New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Karnataka government plans amendments in a week to encourage sandalwood cultivation
MYSURU: Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre on Wednesday announced that the state government will introduce amendments to existing laws and policies within a week to encourage private individuals to grow sandalwood trees. Addressing a programme held at the KSOU auditorium, where safety kits were distributed to forest guards and watchers under CSR funds from Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), Khandre acknowledged that existing regulations have posed challenges to sandalwood cultivation. 'We will amend the policies in the next week or 10 days to simplify the process. Along with this, sandalwood cultivation will be promoted on degraded forest land and lakhs of acres of unutilised land under the revenue department,' he said. Khandre also assured that all forest guards and watchers working in risk conditions will receive a monthly risk allowance of Rs 2,000. 'Currently, 2,007 forest guards are receiving the allowance, and we plan to extend it to all. Additionally, canteen facilities similar to those provided to police and defence personnel will be introduced for forest staff. Residential quarters and sufficient vehicles will also be provided,' he said. Highlighting the increasing human-wildlife conflict, Khandre said: 'Karnataka is home to 6,395 elephants, the highest in the country, and ranks second in tiger population. To mitigate conflicts, rail barricades are being installed along forest borders.' He further shared key achievements of the forest department, including the recovery of over 4,000 acres of forest land in Bengaluru and over 6,000 acres across the state. Around 15,000 acres of forest land have been added, 5,050 acres taken back from private entities, and Rs 5,000 crore worth land reclaimed from HMT. KSDL eyes Rs 5k cr revenues Industries Minister MB Patil said KSDL had been facing decline and corruption before the Congress government came to power, two years ago. 'Despite using the same staff and equipment, we implemented reforms that led to a 40% increase in production. Last year, KSDL generated Rs 414 crore in revenue. We aim to reach Rs 3,000 crore in two years and Rs 5,000 crore in five years,' he said. KSDL currently offers 23 products and is set to launch liquid soaps and distribute sandalwood hand soaps to government offices and student hostels. 'We have added 435 distributors, entered the e-commerce space, and started producing jasmine soap and perfumes to meet the growing demand,' he added.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Forest dept to simplify rules for growing sandalwood trees on pvt lands
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 Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 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.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
10k foresters in Karnataka to receive KSDL kits
Mysuru: In recognition of their role in forest protection, 10,000 forest guards/watchers, mahouts, and drivers in Karnataka will receive quality kits containing a bag, jerkin, shoes, and a water bottle from Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). The first event of this CSR initiative will be held at the convocation hall of Karnataka State Open University in Mysuru on Wednesday, stated large and medium industries minister MB Patil in a release. The minister said that KSDL's CSR fund of Rs 2 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year was utilised to purchase these kits. The essential ingredient for KSDL's flagship product, Mysore Sandal soap, is sandalwood oil. Forest guards are the protectors of this resource, and this initiative reflects our concern for them, he said. The kits will be distributed to 2,168 personnel from the forest divisions of Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts. Forest minister Eshwar Khandre and KSDL chairman CS Nadagouda, along with local representatives, will be present during the event. Patil mentioned that kits will also be distributed to staff working in other forest areas in Karnataka in the coming days. Measurements were taken in advance from each recipient to purchase the jerkins and shoes. Among them, 5,000 are permanent staff, while the rest work on a temporary basis. Ensuring their welfare is our responsibility, he said.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
All-Time Record in 108-Year History: KSDL Achieves ₹186 Crore Turnover in May
Bengaluru: Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), a state-owned enterprise, has achieved a historic milestone by registering a monthly turnover of ₹186 crore in May—its highest ever in the company's 108-year history. The achievement was announced by Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil on Tuesday. Sharing the details, the Minister said the sales target for May was ₹151.50 crore. However, the company surpassed it by ₹35 crore, achieving 125% of the target and recording a 15% growth. Of the total turnover, ₹1.81 crore came from exports. He added that the company has set an ambitious goal of increasing its annual export turnover to ₹150 crore. All 45 products manufactured by KSDL, including the iconic Mysore Sandal Soap, saw strong sales through its branches in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and New Delhi, as well as through direct marketing channels in Bengaluru. Products such as soaps, shower gels, and incense sticks witnessed especially high demand. This success, Patil explained, is the result of enhanced product quality, improved branding, and strategic market expansion. Among regional contributors, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana topped the list, accounting for ₹85 crore in sales, while Karnataka and other states contributed ₹100 crore. The previous highest monthly turnover was ₹178 crore, recorded in September 2024—now surpassed by May's performance. Typically, KSDL's average monthly turnover ranges between ₹135 crore and ₹140 crore, making May's figures an exceptional ₹41 crore above the usual. KSDL Chairman CS Nadagouda noted that over the past two years, the company has improved operational efficiency without any major investment in new equipment. He also informed that KSDL is preparing to launch a new range of perfumes in the near future.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
KSDL will distribute protective kits to 10,000 forest personnel: Patil
Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) will be distributing protective kits to 10,000 forest personnel in the State, including forest guards, watchers, mahouts, and drivers. The kits are distributed under the KSDL's Corporate Social Responsibility programme. The kit has a durable bag, jerkin, shoes, and a water bottle. Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil said the first phase of the distribution will take place at the Convocation Hall of Karnataka State Open University in Mysuru on Wednesday at 1.30 p.m. Mr. Patil said ₹2 crore from KSDL's 2024–25 CSR fund has been allocated for the procurement of the kits. He emphasised the importance of supporting forest personnel, who play a crucial role in conserving sandalwood, which is the source of sandalwood oil, a key ingredient in Mysore Sandal Soap, the flagship product of KSDL. As many as 2,168 staff members from the Chamarajanagar and Mysuru forest divisions will receive the kits at the event. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, KSDL chairman C.S. Nadagouda, and Karnataka Wildlife Board member Dhruva Patil will be present on the occasion, a release said. The initiative will be extended to forest personnel in other districts in the coming weeks. The kits have been custom-fitted based on individual measurements. Of the 10,000 beneficiaries, 5,000 are permanent employees the release added. 'The safety and welfare of the forest personnel are our responsibility,' said Mr. Patil. Dhruva Patil, who is also the founder of the Society for Protection of Plants and Animals (SPPA), was instrumental in conceptualising the initiative. His inputs were based on the hardships forest personnel often face in challenging working conditions, the release added.
