Lok Sabha Question No. 3189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-05
Subject: Sandalwood Trees
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY, KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3189

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.01.2018

## Sandalwood Trees

## 3189.    SHRI M.RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

## SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  to  find  out  the  number  of sandalwood  trees  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State/UT-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the large scale illegally cutting of sandalwood trees for the smuggling purposes; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA):

- (a) Information regarding number of sandalwood trees in the country is not compiled at the level  of  Ministry.  However,  in  India,  the  total  extent  of  sandalwood  distribution  is around  9000  Kilometer  square,  of  which  8200  square  kilometer  is  in  the  States  of Karnataka  and  Tamil  Nadu.  The  details  of  sandalwood  distribution  in  the  country including State of Andhra Pradesh are given in Annexure.
- (b)  &  (c)  The  Ministry  has  not  received  any  report  regarding  large  scale  illegal  cutting  of sandalwood trees  for  smuggling  purpose.  However,  sporadic  incidents  of  sandalwood tree  felling  do  take  place,  wherein,  action  is  taken  by  the  respective  State/Union Territory Governments as per the extant laws, rules and regulations.

Protection  and  management  of  forests  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned State/UT Governments. The various actions to protect forest including sandalwood tree are  taken  as  per  the  provisions  under  various  acts  such  as  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927; Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972;  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980,  various  rules  made under these and State specific acts and rules.

Further  to  protect  forest  including  sandalwood  trees,  various  measures  are  taken  by State/UT    Forest  Departments,  such  as  survey  and  demarcation  of    forest  areas construction  of boundary pillars and check posts, use of modern technology (including wireless network, remote  sensing,  Geographical Information  System,  Information Technology,  Global  Positioning  System),  improved  mobility  of  the  field  staff  by providing vehicles for patrolling. Local communities are also encouraged and involved in conservation, protection and management of forests through Joint Forest Management Committees/ Village level committees.

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Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3189 due for answer on 05.01.2018 regarding 'Sandalwood Trees'

## Details of sandalwood distribution in the country.

## (Area in Square kilometers)

|   Sl. No. | State          | Area   | Locations                                                                                                                                                          |
|-----------|----------------|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Karnataka      | 5245   | Shimoga, Chikkamagalur, Coorg, Hassan, Mysore, Dharwad, Bangalore, Kolar, Belgaum, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Bellary and Tumkur Districts                  |
|         2 | Tamil Nadu     | 3040   | Salem, Dharamapuri Erode, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, The Nilgris, Villupuram and to certain extent in Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli Districts                |
|         3 | Kerala         | 15     | Marayoor Range and to a limited extent in Arienkavu Range                                                                                                          |
|         4 | Andhra Pradesh | 200    | Anantapur, Chitoor and Cuddapah, Tirumala Hills and Paderu Forest Division of Arakku valley                                                                        |
|         5 | Odisha         | 25     | Jeypore and Rayagada forest Divisions of Koraput district                                                                                                          |
|         6 | Madhya Pradesh | 33     | Forests of Seoni, Sagar, Sehore, Mandsour, Dewas, Guna and Rewa Forest Divisions                                                                                   |
|         7 | Maharashtra    | 33     | Districts of Ahmadnagar, Latur, Buldhana, Washim, Amravati, Osmanabad, Beed, Pune and Satara                                                                       |
|         8 | Rajasthan      | Sparse | Some stands of Sandalwood population in Udaipur, Rajasmand, Chittorgary, Pratapagarh, Pali, Sirohi, Banswara, Dungarpur, Jhalwar Ajmer and Karoli Forest Divisions |