BENGALURU: The Central Information Commissioner (CIC) has slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on Sports Authority of India (SAI) regional director Shyam Sundhar for not providing details against an RTI query on the number of sandalwood trees on SAI campus. The premises is located adjacent to Bangalore University off Mysore Road near Kengeri.The CIC, Sridhar Acharyalu M, has also issued a show-cause notice to Sundhar, who is the SAI’s chief public information officer, seeking explanation as to why the details were not given.
The RTI applicant Veeraiah Hiremath had alleged smuggling of sandalwood trees from the SAI campus, but neither SAI nor the forest department knew the exact number of sandalwood trees present. Authorities have admitted that there have been incidents of theft of sandalwood trees on the SAI campus, but expressed helplessness in protecting the sandalwood trees on the 82.5-acre campus.The locals told The New Indian Express that cutting down of sandalwood trees was rampantly carried out at the SAI campus; but neither the police nor the authorities took the issue seriously. Most of the times, no complaints are filed over the thefts.
In the order copy, the CIC took the sports authority to task, saying although Hiremath had brought the issue to SAI’s notice, no measures were taken to protect the trees. The CIC Acharyalu has recommended to the SAI, Bengaluru city police commissioner and the state forest department to co-ordinate with each other to protect the valuable forest within SAI and Bangalore University.
Hiremath told TNIE, “I am a sportsman and a frequent visitor to the SAI. My house is very close to Bangalore University. News of sandalwood theft was doing the rounds since 2011, but came to my notice in 2016 when a sandalwood tree next to security guards point from Nayandanahalli side entrance was cut. This brought fear among the residents. A few days later, another sandalwood tree was cut which was behind groundsman RK Murthy’s house. Though we wrote letters, the officials remained silent.”
The SAI, in its letter to the CIC, said it has taken measures, including patrolling, CCTV installation, and lighting at strategic points. But residents say that was futile in stopping the thefts. The SAI has asked the forest department to cut down sandalwood trees, considering rampant thefts. A letter was written in this regard to the deputy conservative forest officer (urban) Dipika Bajpai by SAI deputy director S Rajkumar. When asked about it, Sundhar told TNIE to speak to the forest officials. Dipika Bajpai was unavailable for comment.