INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KADAPA: The forest and police departments are taking tough measures to protect the rare and invaluable red sandalwood forests from the
clutches of smugglers.Joint combing operations by personnel from the two departments have resulted in a substantial decline in activities of
The first is the domestic buyer who later exports them, while the other is the one who chops them and transports the material to a specified
place with his link to local collaborations
Combing in the woods is carried out by 12 special party police forces
Each team consists of 20 members who are constantly in the jungle.These forces are overseen by an additional SP-level officer
Police forces are also assisting them to the extent required by the forest department
Also, 21 police outposts have been set up across the district to inspect vehicles moving around
department is also taking stringent steps to curb smuggling operations
It has arranged 45 base camps in the forest
Each base camp consists of five protection watchers, a beat officer, and assistant beat officer and a section officer, who all are armed
Most of the protection watchers are local tribal youth, who have a good knowledge about the forest
Their vehicles are equipped with GPS
The team is required to share their location with the concerned divisional forest officer (DFO) on an hourly basis
In addition, there are 19 forest check-posts.DFO Ravindra Dama told this correspondent that red sandalwood smuggling cases have declined in
He said the forest resources were under full surveillance with the cooperation of police.
