Question : SAFETY EQUIPMENTS FOR PREVENTION OF SMUGGLING OF SANDALWOOD

(a) whether a team of forest officials in Marayoor range in Kerala was brutally attacked recently by a gang of sandalwood smugglers;

(b) whether illegal felling and smuggling of sandalwood trees/logs have been rampant in Marayoor range with frequent raids/seizures of illegal sandalwood stocks from sandalwood oil distillation units in Palakkad district;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to provide adequate vehicles for mobility, sophisticated arms and radio communication equipment to forest officials/guards to match those of the poachers; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)

(a) Yes, Sir. The details of attack on forest officials in recent times are given in Annexure – I.

(b) Yes, Sir.

(c) The details are given in Annexure – II.

(d) Yes, Sir.


(e) The steps taken by the State Government of Kerala are as under:

(i)	Creation of Special Task Force and deployment of Rapid Action Force

(ii)	Supply of arms and ammunitions to the staff

(iii)	Involvement of local people in sandal protection through ‘Vanasanrakshana Samities’

(iv)	Intensive patrolling of forest areas.

Year-Wise Details of Sandalwood Related Offences
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Number of Offences	49	131	300	211	216
Trees felled	97	351	1550	836	774
Accused arrested	110	274	486	418	205
Quantity seized (in Quintals)	34.73	415.82	367.44	192.2	155.79 + 24.90 kg Sandalwood oil
Vehicles Confiscated	7	13	70	66	28

Details of attacks on forest officials in recent times
S.No.	Date	Incident
1.	01/2005	One forest guard was intimidated by an accused involved in	various offences in Marayoor Range. The guard has lodged	private complaint in Police.
2.	02/2005	A dozen of forest officials got injured while attempting arrest	of a sandal smuggler in Mannarkad town when a mob of approximately	200 people attacked the raiding forest and police team.
3.	09-02-2005 (FN)	A gang of 30 people attacked one forester and five forest guards	while they were trying to arrest one accused in Marayoor range.
4.	09-02-2005 (AN)	A team of two range officers, two foresters, one guard, three	watchers, one driver and one peon were wounded by some miscreants	in Palland area of Marayoor Range