Jairam Ramesh announces global auction of seized Red Sanders

Tirupati, June 18 (ANI): Minister of State for Environment and Forest (Independent Charge) Jairam Ramesh has announced that 6,000 tonnes of seized Red Sanders wood would be auctioned through the global tender process.

Red Sanders is a moderate sized deciduous tree used locally for the manufacture of Hindu idols, pictures, frames, dolls and household containers.

"According to the state government, about 6,000 tonnes of Red Sanders has been seized and is lying in different godowns. The request was made by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh that we should give the state government permission to dispose off these smuggled Red Sanders," Ramesh told reporters here on Thursday.

He said the auction is a one-time permission and won't be granted again.

"It's a one-time permission to dispose off 6,000 tonnes by global auction. This permission would not be granted again in the future. Global tender does not mean restricted only to few parties in and around Hyderabad," said Ramesh.

Red Sanders occurs in an area of 15,000 square kilometres in the southeastern part of the Indian peninsula.

Increasing demand in the international market of red sanders wood has led to rampant smuggling in the region. As a result, godowns are flooded with seized contraband red sanders wood. (ANI)