Thiruvananthapuram: The Forest Service has donated 24,000 tons of acacia wooden from 120 hectares of forest within the Palode and Paruthippally mountains to the troubled Kerala Paper Merchandise Restricted (KPPL) at a really cheap worth. If the market worth is between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500, KPPL will hand over one metric ton at a worth of Rs 500.
The choice to fell over three lakh acacia bushes weighing over 50,000 tonnes was made after these bushes have been discovered to be affecting the forest’s ecosystem. The division had began felling the bushes in December; round 70% of the bushes have been felled up to now.
The division then made a pact with KPPL to promote the pulpwood at 500 rupees a ton. The division will obtain Rs 1.2 crore from the deal from the KPPL if the precise market worth is over Rs 8 crore.
“For the reason that KPPL is a government-run company, the Ministry has determined to promote it on the lowest doable worth as a way to assist the crisis-ridden KPPL. We are going to solely promote 24,000 metric tons at this worth and later the division will revise the worth whereas promoting the remaining quantity of pulpwood,” stated KI Pradeep Kumar, DFO, Thiruvananthapuram.
The division now offers the KPPL gentle acacia wooden for pulp, however the laborious will likely be auctioned off at a later date. “Acacia bushes, that are between 25 cm and 75 cm shorter, are used for pulpwood, however bigger ones are used for making furnishings as a result of they’ve been given tougher woods,” stated a Forest Service official.
Timber have been felled at a fast tempo in Mylamoodu, Bharathanoor, Bonakkadu, Vithura, Chennanpara, Peppara, Anappara, Elimala, Chonampara, Pachakkad and Kaithakkal areas. The division additionally plans to exchange the felled bushes with native crops similar to wild jack (anjili), jackfruit tree, maruthu, kumbil, chembakam, and so on.
The acacia bushes in these areas have been previously planted by the Forest Service. Nevertheless, they grew exponentially and destroyed the pure habitat there. The dearth of grass, reeds and different crops compelled wild animals emigrate to human habitats to seek out meals. In consequence, wildlife assaults have been rampant and folks suffered big agricultural losses, forest officers stated.
Villagers additionally complained that the rise within the variety of asthmatics within the space can be associated to the acacia crops.
The acacias draw quite a lot of water, which ends up in acute consuming water shortages within the space. “As soon as these bushes are utterly felled, we’ll begin planting the native bushes there,” stated a forest official.
