Two sandalwood trees cut

Sandalwood smugglers cut and smuggled two trees, around 10 years old, from a farm in Maduraiveeran Thittu, close to Sungam Junction on Sunday.

The incident came to light by 5.30 a.m. when farm owner N. Srinivasan (50) went to attend nature’s call. He then saw that the smugglers had also attempted to chop the five other trees in the farm.

The seven trees were close to the periphery of the farm that belonged to Mr. Srinivasan. He stayed there and had cultivated drumstick. His house was around 80 feet away from the sandalwood trees.

He said that he did not realise that smugglers were cutting trees. “As it was cold outside and there were too many mosquitoes around, the family had closed windows early in the evening and that had cut out the noise.”

He knew that they were sandalwood trees but had not taken measures to protect them as they were around for 10 years.

With his lawyer-friend suggesting that they inform the police, he contacted the Ramanathapuram police who visited the spot. The police did not seek a complaint from him, he added.

As of Sunday evening, the police had not registered a case in this connection.

Sources in the Forest Department said that they legally had no role to play in the incident as the trees were on private land and it was for the land owner to lodge a complaint.

This was notwithstanding the fact that the trees belonged to the Government.

The Department could join hands with non-Government organisations, Revenue Department and Coimbatore Corporation to survey and mark the sandalwood trees in the city but that would be a giveaway.

The sources said that their survey would only make the smugglers’ job easier. They added that they were responsible for trees in forest boundary.

Felling of sandalwood trees had been on the increase in Coimbatore in the recent past. Smugglers had cut trees right in the heart of the city in Ramnagar a few weeks ago.