Eshwar Khandre hints at simplifying sandalwood policy 

Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Eshwar B Khandre said here on Wednesday that the State government would issue a notifica

Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Eshwar B Khandre said here on Wednesday that the State government would issue a notification simplifying the sandalwood policy.

He was speaking at a programme to distribute safety kits to the frontline staff of the Forest Department, in Mysuru.

The safety kits were provided by the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd. (KSDL) as a CSR initiative. The KSDL safety kit will be provided to nearly 10,000 frontline forest personnel across the State and the launch was held in Mysuru.

Mr. Khandre said that the farmers in the State were cultivating sandalwood and the KSDL had highlighted the need for sandalwood oil. But there were stringent norms guiding the growth, felling and transportation of sandalwood. Hence, a notification to simplify the sandalwood policy would be issued soon to facilitate its felling and transportation. Steps would also be taken by the Forest Department to grow sandalwood trees in plantation forests, the Minister said.

Mr. Khandre praised the frontline staff of the department in forest and wildlife conservation, besides augmenting green cover.

‘’It would not be wrong to say that it is due to their efforts that there was a  21% forest cover in the State,” he added. The work being done by frontline staff in preventing forest encroachment, dousing forest fires, and curbing wildlife poaching was commendable, the Minister said.

Referring to the initiatives taken by him for the welfare of the Forest Department staff, Mr. Khandre said that food allowance was being provided along with salary to the personnel who guarded forests and forest resources  apart from granting a monthly risk allowance of ₹2,000.