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New Delhi, October 15 (IANS) The report of the Sandalwood Development Committee was launched at an event in New Delhi on Wednesday. The report launching event was sponsored by the Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry (FIPPI).
Ratan P. Watal, former Finance Secretary, Government of India, presided over the launching event and besides representatives of the concerned Central Government Ministries/Departments, Rajesh Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Green Ply Industries Limited and Chairman, FIPPI, also attended the event.
The Sandalwood Development Committee was chaired by Ratan Prakash Watal, former Finance Secretary of the Government of India. Representatives of all concerned Ministries/Departments, such as Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of AYUSH and National Medicinal Plants Board of the Government of India are members of this Committee. The committee also has representation from the Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bengaluru and Forest College and Research Institute of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
An official statement said, “Sandalwood cultivation can act as a platform for rural employment generation and significant foreign exchange generation through export of sandalwood and its various other by-products. India can be self-reliant by meeting the sandalwood needs of our society in the present and future. Several measures and reforms will need to be taken by the Central and State Governments to regain the past glory of Indian sandalwood.”
To identify the issues and make recommendations for the development of sandalwood in the country, Watal initiated the formation of this Inter-Ministerial Sandalwood Development Committee.
The committee held extensive consultations with various stakeholders including forest departments of major state governments and recommended comprehensive measures in its report for the development of sandalwood in India and to regain its past glory.
–IANS
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