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State’s sandalwood wealth under threat

Also called “Chandan” and “Srigandha”, the sandalwood tree has high commercial and medicinal value. It has special place in our tradition, where it is used right from the cradle to cremation.

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Ashok  Raina

Also called “Chandan” and “Srigandha”, the sandalwood tree has high commercial and medicinal value. It has special place in our tradition, where it is used right from the cradle to cremation. 

Due to the restrictions imposed on growing sandalwood in different states of India, the demand for this precious wood is extremely high. However, some states have lifted the ban on growing these trees.

“There is no legal ban on the plantation of sandalwood trees in the state, however, these trees can be axed only after seeking permission from the government,” said Gopal Singh, Range Forest Officer at Jwalamukhi.

The government needs to protect sandalwood trees in the state from smugglers and develop a mechanism, so that its trade not only benefits the state’s economy, but that of sandalwood growers as well.

Official records indicate that there were 3,000 fully grown sandalwood trees on a forestland near Jwalamukhi temple by the end of 2011 and the number touched 3,998 by December 2018. Apart from these trees, there were 600 fully grown sandalwood trees in seven villages of Jwalamukhi including Kholla, Bohn, Gummar, Kalri, Kohala, Amb and Drung. 

In 2011, a survey indicated that there were 523 sandalwood trees in these villages, but within eight years, the number went up to 600. 

Gopal Singh said: “Some local residents are planting these trees as a matter of pride, but sandalwood smugglers from outside the state in connivance with locals axe these and smuggle it out of the state.” 

He said the Forest Department was alert and protection parties keep patrolling the areas and the forest check posts keep a vigil on such smugglers.

Gopal said the forest officials were carrying out awareness campaigns at different villages to allow sandalwood trees to grow fully, so that it could reap better financial return. However, he said the efforts were not yielding fruitful results in developing sandalwood nurseries, adding that half-a-kg of seeds hardly produced 10 plants. 

Prof Kamal Sharma, a scientist at the Hamirpur campus of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni, near Solan, however, has successfully developed nursery and plantation technologies for large-scale establishment of sandalwood. 

Vice-Chancellor of the university Dr HC Sharma said sandalwood trees could be successfully planted in forest areas, where ‘lantana’ is already planted. He said in the beginning, sandalwood trees are first established on the roots of lantana plants and then it grows further on its own roots. 

Smugglers on the prowl

As many as 11 cases were registered in 2008 and 2009, when smugglers laid their hands on a large number of sandalwood trees at Jwalamukhi. One case, however, is still unsolved, while others were challaned in court. No incident was reported in 2017, however, last year, sandalwood smuggling picked up and five such cases were registered with the Jwalamukhi police. 

Interestingly, last year, a sandalwood tree was axed just outside the police station and was smuggled away.

Yogesh Dutt Joshi, SDPO Jwalamukhi, said three out of five sandalwood smuggling cases, which were registered last year, remain untraced, however, in other two cases, three locals were arrested and the cases were presented before the court at Dehra on June 15, 2018. 

Rakesh Sharma, SDM Jwalamukhi, said: “Necessary directions have been issued to the Police Department to keep a strict vigil on sandalwood smugglers and protect this vital treasure.” 

He said Jwalamukhi was blessed with the presences of these trees, but sincere efforts were needed to protect these from smugglers. 

An evergreen tree

Sandalwood tree is an evergreen tree and is being used from centuries in India. It reaches up to 13 to 16 metre in height and has girth of 100 to 200 cm. It is variable in habit, usually upright to sprawling. A naturally grown sandalwood tree takes 30 years to be ready for harvesting. However, intensive cultivation in organic way gives quick results in 10 to 15 years.

High commercial value

n The commercial value of sandalwood and its essential oil is very high, as it is used in cosmetic industry, pharmaceutical industry, aroma therapy, soap industry and perfumery. 

n There are many varieties of sandalwood available in the world, but the Indian and Australian sandalwood are very famous and has excellent commercial value in the market. 

n The return on sandalwood cultivation is very high. 

Grown in a few states only 

In India, sandalwood is mostly grown in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and in specific areas of Jwalamukhi in Himachal Pradesh. 

Factfile

Official records indicate that there are 3,000 fully grown sandalwood trees on a forestland near Jwalamukhi temple by the end of 2011 and the number touched 3,998 by December 2018. Apart from these trees, there are 600 fully grown sandalwood trees in seven villages of Jwalamukhi including Kholla, Bohn, Gummar, Kalri, Kohala, Amb and Drung.


There is no legal ban on the plantation of sandalwood trees in the state, however, these trees can be axed only after seeking permission from the government. Some local residents are planting these trees as a matter of pride, but sandalwood smugglers from outside the state in connivance with locals axe these and smuggle it out of the state. The Forest Department is alert and protection parties keep patrolling the areas and the forest check posts keep a vigil on such smugglers. —Gopal Singh, Range Forest Officer at Jwalamukhi

Necessary directions have been issued to the police to keep a strict vigil on sandalwood smugglers and protect this vital treasure. —Rakesh Sharma, SDM Jwalamukhi

Three sandalwood smuggling cases remain untraced, however, in other two cases, three locals were arrested and presented before court in Dehra on June 15, 2018. —Yogesh Dutt Joshi, SDPO Jwalamukhi

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