Sandalwood saved contained in the sandalwood depot at Marayur in Idukki.
| Photograph Credit score: JOMON PAMPAVALLEY
The Forest division is all set to ascertain Kerala’s first sandal museum at Marayur in Idukki quickly. In keeping with Forest division officers, the brand new museum shall be a significant attraction at Marayur which has the nation’s solely pure sandalwood forest. Final month, Minister of Forests A.Ok. Saseendran introduced the museum undertaking.
Sandal reserve divisional forest officer (DFO) M.G. Vinod Kumar informed The Hindu that the division has initiated steps to arrange an in depth undertaking report (DPR) for the museum undertaking. “The Sandal Museum goals at offering complete particulars about sandalwood. The museum will embody details about the historical past of sandalwood, myths related to sandal, its current standing, distribution, safety strategies, demand, sandal merchandise, worth and classifications in addition to in regards to the threats it faces,” mentioned Mr. Kumar.
“Aside from a possibility to get to find out about sandalwood by means of contact, scent and worthwhile info, guests can buy numerous sandal merchandise from the museum. The DPR preparation is happening and we’ll submit it to the federal government quickly for approval,” mentioned the official.
In keeping with division officers, yearly, lakhs of vacationers go to Munnar, a few of whom discover Marayur as nicely. “We hope numerous vacationers will arrive at Marayur to go to the museum,” mentioned Mr. Kumar.
A view of the sandalwood forests at Marayur in Idukki.
| Photograph Credit score:
JOMON PAMPAVALLEY
The Marayur Sandalwood Reserve, which spreads over 1460.77 hectares, is a matter of delight for the State for the high-quality sandalwood derived from the place. Not too long ago, the Forest division began a replantation drive to repopulate the dwindling sandalwood reserve at Marayur the place sandalwood spike illness (SSD) poses a significant menace to the bushes.
Within the Eighties, the variety of sandalwood bushes on the reserve was estimated to be between 1.5 lakh and a pair of lakh. Now, the quantity has come right down to about 55,000. Marayur sandalwood can also be famend for its increased amount of oil. The sandal division at Marayur is the one place to buy sandalwood formally within the State.
In 2021, Karnataka arrange India’s first sandalwood museum at Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru.
