Lok Sabha Question No. 448 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Smuggling of Red Sandalwood
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAJESH VERMA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  448

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## Smuggling of Red Sandalwood

## 448. SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

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

- (a) whether the Red Sandalwood and timber used in construction work of buildings are being smuggled in various metro cities including Delhi from various States; and
- (b) if so, the measures taken by the Government to check the smuggling of Red Sandalwood and other timber?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) No  such  report  regarding  smuggling  of  Red  Sanders  and  timber  being  used  in construction  into  various  metro  cities  including  Delhi  from  various  States  has  been received . Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is endemic to the forests of Seshachalam, Vellgonda,  Lankamala  and  Palakonda  hill  ranges  of  Andhra  Pradesh.  Due  to  heavy demand of red sanders in international market, red sander wood is prone to smuggling. As per the records of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau during last three years the cases of  smuggling  of  Red  Sanders  detected  at  various  exit  points  from  the  Country  are  as under:-
- (b) Protection  and  Management  of  Forests  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned State/UT Government and hence the action to tackle illegal felling/smuggling of trees is taken  as  per  the  provisions  of  various  acts  such  as  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927;  Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and various state specific rules & regulations thereof. Further State Governments take various measures for protection of existing forests including survey demarcation, fencing, patrolling, setting of check posts, use  of  Information  Communication  Technology  (ICT).  Financial  assistance  is  also provided under Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS): Intensification of Forest Management Scheme by the Ministry to supplement these efforts.

|   Year |   No of cases |
|--------|---------------|
|   2012 |            74 |
|   2013 |            91 |
|   2014 |           139 |

Some of the important initiatives taken by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for protection of Red Sanders are as under:-

- (i) Setting up of Base Camps and Strike Forces.
- (ii) Setting  up  of  Armed  Mobile  parties  for  patrolling,  apprehending  notorious smugglers and conducting raids.
- (iii) Setting up of Dog Squads.
- (iv) Formation of Red Sanders Anti -Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF)
- (v) Providing arms and mobility to forest staff.
- (vi) As a pilot project at certain vulnerable spots high resolution cameras have been fixed for e-surveillance and monitoring of Red Sanders areas.

In addition, Government of India has also taken number of steps to prevent smuggling of Red Sanders including inspection of flora and fauna consignments at exit points to detect violations of provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, Convention on International Trade in Endangered  Species  of  Wild  Fauna  and  Flora  (CITES)  etc,  sensitization  of  various agencies and trade regulation as per Export-Import (Exim) Policy.

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