Live
- Chanchalguda Jail Officials Say They Haven't Received Bail Papers Yet, Allu Arjun May Stay in Jail Tonight
- BJP leaders present evidence of illegal voters in Delhi, urge EC for swift action
- Exams will not be cancelled: BPSC chairman
- Nagesh Trophy: Karnataka, T.N win in Group A; Bihar, Rajasthan triumph in Group B
- YS Jagan condemns the arrest of Allu Arjun
- Economic and digital corridors to maritime connectivity, India and Italy building vision for future, says Italian Ambassador
- SMAT 2024: Patidar's heroics guide Madhya Pradesh to final after 13 years
- CCPA issues notices to 17 entities for violating direct selling rules
- Mamata expresses satisfaction over speedy conviction in minor girl rape-murder case
- Transparent Survey Process for Indiramma Housing Scheme Directed by District Collector
Forest dept to radio-tag red sanders
Forest Department to Radio-Tag Red Sanders. Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has stepped up security measures to protect the red sanders logs stocked in different parts of Rayalaseema as the auction set for September 19 is likely to be postponed.
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has stepped up security measures to protect the red sanders logs stocked in different parts of Rayalaseema as the auction set for September 19 is likely to be postponed.
The department has already installed CCTV cameras in the depots of Kanigiri, Venkatagiri, Kadapa, Tirupati and Bhaskarpet with armed security guards positioned all around. Apart from conventional security system, the department is now planning to install Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to most of the logs in every lot earmarked for the auction.
“We have already conducted a successful trial run and now looking for a suitable vendor. All the depots have more than a lakh logs and each chip is expected to cost Rs 200, which has to be imported,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests AV Jospeh.
Talking to this correspondent here on Wednesday, Joseph said any movement of the logs would send a beep to the depot monitor and seconds later a message would reach the headquarters. The system would be sending signals every 30 minutes and the frequency could be set as desired by the security personnel.
The task of acquiring the RFID system has been entrusted to Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion Centre (APTDPC), a joint venture of CII and Andhra Pradesh Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council.
Similar tagging was done by South American countries for mahogany trees, the national tree of Dominican Republic and Belize. One tree went missing from Argentina and later it was traced in Europe. Mahogany is used mostly for making caskets for the rich in Europe. Hinting at cancellation of e-auction of the logs, the CCF said the proposed tour of officials to Hong Kong and China had been put off due to delay in issue of visas by these two countries.
“China wants that only genuine traders participate in the auction and not middlemen. Hence the pre-bidding date has been put off, resulting in delay of issuing of visas,”' he added. He said if the tour could be completed within a week, the auction would go on as schedule otherwise it would be postponed.
The news of deferment came as rude shock to the government as the Chief Minister has been anxiously waiting for the money generated from the auction to begin his loan waiver scheme. The resource committee has pinned hopes on the auction, which could fetch Rs 3,000 crore.
