Story on Red Sanders smuggling from kadapa

The smuggling of Red sanders from the forests of Kadapa district remains unabated despite the firm resolve of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to end the menace threatening the endemic and precious Red sander trees.

The smugglers adopting various methods coupled with changing of practice are to continue the illegal trade of Red sander smuggling much to the dismay of the forest, police and task force.

No doubt the forest and police stepped up the drive against Red sander smuggling and also opted tough meance to check the smuggling, which was evident with the seizure of about RS 20 Crores worth red sander logs and putting more than 30 notorious smugglers behind the bars under P.D Act but still there efforts remaining far from successful in wiping out the smugglers.

Inside sources of the government agencies concerned with the Anti-smuggling reveal that the reasons for the continuation of this illegal trade are not one but many like lack of stringent loss, a severe shortage of staff and latest facilities including latest technology.

Vehicles, weaponry, connivance of forest staff and last but not least political support paving the path for culprits.

Interestingly the woodcutters who are mostly the Malayalee tribes called Malaimakkal are from the neighbouring Tamil Nadu residents of the Hilly called JawadiMalai area in Tamil Nadu is able to come all the way to Kadapa district for the Red sander smuggling.

"We have arrested more than 1500 red sander operatives including the woodcutters from Tamil Nadu and International smugglers for the last couple of years. But the smuggling remains far from removed due to various reasons" said a senior official to Hans India.

According to the sources the woodcutters reaching Tirupati Chennai by via Naidupet, Sulurpet by bus later they gain into the entry of Seahachlam forest by walk about 120 kilometres from Mangalam village located outskirts of Tirupati.

Later they reached to Guntakal by train they disperse to the Mudhanuru, Jammalamadugu, Yerraguntla, Mydukuru, Kamalapuram in Kadapa district by private vehicles and stay in temples and ashrams in the guise of devotees before venturing into the forest.

However, an official said it is easy to identify Malayalee tribal with there distinctive thin body black colour with different language. But the problem is they are taking shelters at pilgrimage centres, and some in government hospitals as migrant labours as with various health reasons after a few days they gain entry into the forest areas

The official said if the Andhra Pradesh police nab them they managed to get bail only to resume the illegal activity. Instead of discouraging such illegal activity Tamil Nadu government providing social initiatives like employment to the culprits after they released on bail he observed.