BANGALORE: Sandalwood trees, the pride of Karnataka, will get a lease of life from the hands of smugglers now.
The ‘common law on sandalwood,’ which the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is planning to introduce, will not only help in curbing the sandalwood mafia in the state but also prove handy in prosecuting them, if caught in other states.
“You cannot arrest a person in Kerala if he is caught carrying sandalwood,” says Swaminathan, secretary, Environment, Forest and Ecology Department. Speaking to Express, he said for this particular reason, you see a lot of sandalwood oil companies operating from the bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.
He said earlier, when sandalwood or extracted sandalwood oil was smuggled from Karnataka, it was difficult to arrest or prosecute a person if caught in another state. He said except Karnataka, none of these states has any law on sandalwood.
Swaminathan said in order to prevent it, a new common law is being drafted by the Union Ministry applicable to all the states. He said this law will make people more aware and will help in preventing the illegal felling and cutting of sandalwood.
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Dyavaiah, said the Union Ministry is referring to the Karnataka Forest Act while drafting the law. He said according to the Karnataka Forest Act, anybody carrying illegal sandalwood or sandalwood oil will get a jail-term of five years.
He also said if the person is subsequently caught again, he will be sentenced to jail for seven years, which could increase upto a maximum of ten years. Along with the jail-term, a fine of Rs 20,000 will be imposed and vehicles will be confiscated, he said.
m imran@epmltd.com