Need for coordinated efforts

Tirupati: Anantapur Range DIG J Prabhakar Rao sought the government agencies including the Forest department, Red Sanders Anti Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) and the police to work in tandem for the effective implementation of the amended Forest Act to put an end to the red sanders smuggling which is spread beyond state and country.

Speaking at a workshop on the ‘AP Forest (Amendment) Act 2016’ also known as ‘AP Act No 15 of 2016’ organised by Tirupati Urban Police here on Saturday, the DIG said the amendment to the act was the persuasion of the Forest and Police departments which made the Forest Act more stringent to curb smuggling.

The DIG said that the awareness about the act coupled with the role clarity on the part of the personnel would go a long way in effectively checking the smuggling of precious red sanders. Rao was candid enough to seek the authorities of the three wings to set aside their minor differences and work in unison by taking advantage of the new act which is comprehensive and multi-pronged to weed out smugglers from the forests.

Chief Conservator of Forests PV Chalapathi Rao said the magnitude of red sanders smuggling reached its peak in 2004 after smugglers finding a huge market in China.

Hitherto, only first grade red sanders logs were exported to Japan where it was used for musical instruments while the Chinese preferring red sanders for sentimental reasons, believing that keeping the articles made of red sanders wood in their homes will ward off evil spirits resulted in huge demand for red sanders irrespective of its grade in international market, saw red sanders smuggling reach its peak from 2004-12.

The smuggling menace turned beyond control with the Forest department with its limited staff unable to check it, he said while explaining the reasons that have necessitated the new act empowering both forest and police personnel to deal with the smuggling with an iron hand.

RSASTF official Murthy said the red sanders smuggling come down by 70 per cent and the implementation of act which is the most stringent being found in any State in the country, surely help to end smuggling.

Tirupati Urban SP R Jayalakshmi said that the red sanders smuggling turned more complicated and complex issue as it is not limited to Seshchalam forests where the trees are felled for smuggling, as the smugglers network stretched to others states and countries involving international smugglers and mafia.

The workshop was organised for the benefit of the RSASTF, forest and police personnel working against red sanders smuggling to create awareness about the amended Forest Act. Additional Prosecutor Rozedar, who acted as a resource person, explained the salient features of the amended act. DFO Subba Reddy and Kadapa OSD Yesubabu also spoke.