Koraput, Feb, 28: Koraput was once fragrant with the scent of red sandalwood, and sandalwood timber from the region was supplied to various monasteries and temples. However, with the rise in activities of timber mafias, many sandalwood forests have disappeared.
Concerned over this decline, human rights activist Anup Kumar Patra has written a letter to the President of India seeking restoration and protection of Koraput’s sandalwood heritage. In his letter, he described the depletion of red sandalwood as a significant loss.
Since Koraput was renowned for its high-quality sandalwood, Mr. Patra has requested that the Chief Secretary be directed to initiate a concrete proposal for its restoration and protection. Drawing inspiration from successful sandalwood conservation models in Gulbarga, Karnataka, he has demanded that special protection zones be created with intensified patrolling. He proposed designating the Kuntarkhal Reserved Forest and the Nandapur–Padua region as “Sandalwood Heritage Zones.”
To ensure a higher survival rate of saplings, he suggested implementing host-tree cultivation methods in the Lamtaput and Balda forest ranges. Following the Karnataka model, he also recommended incentivizing local tribal communities by granting them a legal share in crop value, encouraging them to act as protectors of sandalwood forests.
To discourage the smuggling of raw timber, Mr. Patra proposed establishing a small-scale essential oil extraction unit in Koraput. He stated that such measures could help restore the fragrance of Koraput sandalwood to the Jagannath Temple, Puri and even to international markets once again.
He further urged the Forest and Environment Department to form a “Koraput Sandalwood Revival Mission” and promote farmer-led afforestation under the Joint Forest Management platform.
Copies of the letter have also been sent to the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Minister of Odisha, and the State Forest Department.
Notably, the letter was written after a news report titled “The Fragrance of Koraput Sandalwood Has Vanished” was published, prompting Mr. Patra to take this initiative for restoration.
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