Maharashtra’s Chandrapur teakwood sent to Ayodhya for Ram temple

The first consignment of teakwood logs procured from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli forests in Maharashtra, was dispatched to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for use in the Ram temple, amid grand celebrations on the stretch between Ballarpur forest depot and Chandrapur.

The first consignment of teakwood logs procured from the thick forests of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, was dispatched to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for use in the Ram temple, amid grand celebrations on the 16-km stretch between Ballarpur forest depot and Chandrapur.

Maharashtra Forest and Environment Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told The Hindu that the superior quality teakwood, which was being provided through the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited, would be sent to Ayodhya in five or six batches by May.

“Today, we have sent the first lot of wood. The estimated requirement is 1,855 cubic feet, and it can increase further depending on the work. We proposed to give it free of cost, but the temple management made it clear that they are not accepting anything for free from the government, either the Centre or States, so we are supplying the wood at a discount price,” he said.

The same wood, also known as Central province teakwood, is being used for the Central Vista Project and other government projects in Maharashtra, and across the country.

The environs of Chandrapur and Ballarpur towns and villages en route reverberated with chants of Jai Shri Ram and Bharat Mata ki jai , besides others, by thousands of people waving giant saffron flags in the scorching heat. They were sporting saffron caps, kurtas, and scarves, and many were dancing to the high-decibel tunes flowing out of the large music systems in the procession. Hundreds of cultural artists from across the State marched in the procession.

As it was the holy month of Ramzan, the Chandrapur District Police made massive security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents, and also to ensure the free movement of the procession.

Three Ministers— Yogendra Upadhyay, Ravindra Jaiswal, and Arun Kumar Saxena— from Uttar Pradesh, several MPs, MLAs, and MLCs from Chandrapur and neighbouring districts participated in the event. The major attraction was the star cast of the epic television serial ‘Ramayana’ (1987)— Arun Govil (Lord Rama), Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala (Sita) and Sunil Lahiri (Lakshmana).