SANDALWOOD TREES FELLED ILLEGALLY IN OLD SACHIVALAYA

Rajasthan gang suspected behind the attempted theft on Sunday night; forest dept inquiring into the matter

DILIP PATEL

Two sandalwood trees in the old Sachivalaya complex were cut down by miscreants late on Sunday night.
The 25-year-old trees near Principal Conservator of Forest Pradip Khanna’s office were at least 20 feet tall. Someone noticed the chopped trees and alerted the forest department.
Range Forest Officer Kishore Trivedi said, “Forester S Khant is inquiring into the incident. The attempted theft of sandalwood might be the handiwork of a Rajasthan-based gang. Four years ago, eight sandalwood trees behind the Circuit House were felled illegally by such a gang.” Sandalwood trees are often under threat because their wood fetches a high price in the market at Rs 1,000 per kilogram. Gandhinagar Ayurvedic Garden has 100 sandalwood trees.
District Forest Officer said, “I inspected the site. Feeling and attempted theft of sandalwood trees from inside the government complex is a serious matter. We are on the lookout for the culprits.”

Forest officials taking possession of the chopped trees. The 25-year-old trees near Principal Conservator of Forest Pradip Khanna’s office were at least 20 feet tall