Australia exports sandalwood oil to Karnataka as state’s production, quality decline: Report
Bengaluru: In a reversal of roles, Australia, which once imported sandalwood seeds from Karnataka, is now exporting sandalwood oil to the state. This shift comes amid a decline in both the quality and yield of farm-grown sandalwood in Karnataka, resulting in increased reliance on imports to meet domestic demand.
Private companies and Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) are increasingly diversifying their product lines due to the shortage of raw material, as reported by The New Indian Express on Thursday. Many are shifting focus to non-sandal-based items such as jasmine, rose, lavender, and aloe vera.
A KSDL official said that there is currently a 60–70% shortage of both sandalwood and its essential oil, severely impacting domestic production. To compensate for the shortfall, they are importing approximately 5,000 kg of sandalwood oil from Australia annually which continues to rise each year.
“Australia has become one of the largest suppliers of oil. Since Karnataka’s sandalwood is of supreme quality, Australia took the seeds from Karnataka in the 1990s and harvested them in a secure environment. Good quality of oil was extracted and Australia is gradually becoming a leading exporter of sandalwood oil,” TNIE quoted the KSDL official as saying.
The official added that, in addition to sourcing farm-grown sandalwood within the state, KSDL is also procuring wood from other states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, to meet the demand.
The decline in both the quantity and quality of sandalwood was highlighted in the Sandalwood Development Committee’s report released by the Central Vista Oversight Committee. The report, cited by TNIE, also identified Australia as the largest sandalwood market, holding approximately 69 percent of the market share, followed by India with a 20 percent share.
Officials at the Institute of Wood Science and Technology mentioned that, although sandalwood is a hardy species requiring a stressful environment to thrive, factors such as declining soil quality, reduced land fertility, and inadequate protection measures are contributing to a deterioration in its quality.
The Karnataka Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2001, permits the cultivation of sandalwood on private lands. This policy change has reportedly encouraged private individuals to engage in the cultivation and protection of sandalwood trees.
KSDL Managing Director Prashanth PK stated that to boost wood procurement, they have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 735 farmers, resulting in sandalwood cultivation on over 4,000 acres. “But a lot more needs to be done as demand is rising. Due to shortage, KSDL is diversifying into other items,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
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Bomb threat at Mangaluru RTO turns out to be hoax
Mangaluru (PTI): A search operation was carried out at the Regional Transport Office here on Monday after the office received a bomb threat email, which later turned out to be a hoax, police said.
The email was received on Sunday night but came to the notice of the authorities only on Monday afternoon, following which immediate precautionary measures were taken, they said.
According to police, the RTO office staff were evacuated as a safety measure, and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad was pressed into service to conduct a meticulous search of the building.
Police personnel and the dog squad were also deployed at the spot.
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“The email claimed that bombs were kept in the RTO office. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad checked the premises thoroughly and no suspicious object was found. It was a hoax email,” a senior police officer said.
Officials said the authorities are treating the incident seriously and have launched an investigation to trace the source of the email.
“A case has been registered at the South police station in this regard and further investigation is underway,” he added.
