A four-year-old sandalwood tree in Race Course has been cut. The incident came to light on Sunday morning, when Coimbatore Range Officer S.M. Natarajan found a group of persons, including journalists, standing in front of the official residence of the Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, in Race Course.
He was returning from the Conservator’s bungalow when he noticed the persons and learnt about the tree being cut. He said that nobody had planted the tree and it was of natural growth. Those who had cut the tree had completely removed it, leaving only a few inches of stump above the ground.
The accused could have obtained around 3 kg wood. And given the government rate, they could have earned around Rs. 3,000.
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Mr. Natarajan said that a team of Forest Department personnel would lookout for movement of suspicious people in and around Race Course.
If caught, those who cut the tree would be prosecuted under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act and Sandalwood Transit Act.