Sandalwood smuggling tops Forest Act offence

Protection in notified areas is ensured by various Forest and Wildlife divisions in each district. Forest protection is also strengthened by 12 Forest Protection Squads, 9 Enforcement Ranges, 9 Forest stations and establishment of mobile Roving check posts in sensitive areas.

According to the official data for the year 2018-19, a total of 41,979 forest offences were booked and as many as 7,697 offenders were arrested.

“Compounding fine to a tune of Rs 6.26 crore was collected by the foresters and most of the fine amount came from tiger reserves with Mudumalai recording maximum fine collection,” an informed wildlife official said.

During the same period, 78 sandalwood offences were booked from the western region comprising Coimbatore, Sathyamangalam and Nilgiris.

So far 104 accused were arrested, and 1.671 metric tonnes of sandalwood had been seized. Following sandalwood, red sanders is the second most sought after timber in TN with 29 cases and12 arrests.

A total of 13.88 metric tonnes of red sanders has been seized. For fiscal 2018-19, a total of 22 vehicles used for smuggling timber has been confiscated by the forest rangers, the official said.

In case of wildlife poaching and offences under the wildlife protection act 1972, a total of 954 offences have been booked.