Environment and Forests Minister B. Gopalakrishna Reddy has said that the State government is mulling options for speedy disposal of the seized red sanders that are lying idle in various repositories in the State.
According to an estimate, the State has more than 12,000 tonnes of red sanders logs seized during crackdowns by the officials.
Of this, the State government has god the nod for sale of over 8,000 tonnes of the precious logs, while efforts are on to obtain permission for the sale of the residual stock.
However, a decision with regard to the modalities to be worked out in clearing the stock would be taken at a high level meeting to be held in Hyderabad on Monday.
The meeting, to be attended by the Principal Conservator of Forests and other State level officials, would be chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The meeting is likely to discuss in depth the huge demand of the wood in International market, ahead of taking a decision with regard to its auction.
In an interview on Sunday, the Minister told The Hindu that State government had been quite successful in putting a curb on the rampant smuggling of the precious wood especially in the Seshachalam forest region.
Strict instructions pertaining to bringing those involved in the red sanders smuggling to the books seemed to have worked well with the officials, the Minister said.
Erring staff warnedIn the same vein, Mr. Gopalakrishna Reddy sternly warned that even the erring staff would not be spared.
In reply to a question, the Environment and Forests Minister said that it was early to comment on the proceeds likely to be generated from the auctioning of red sanders.
“How can one comment on the extent of cushion the auction would provide to the government exchequer? The government is also considering proposals of auctioning of the vehicles seized by the Forest Department officials,” he said.
Mr. Reddy also had a word of appreciation for the Vana Samrakshana Samithis which, he said, were instrumental in protecting the green cover in the State.
