Sandalwood in your Bangalore backyards

Soon, apartments and companies in the city may have to grow sandalwood on their premises. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has decided to ask apartment-owners and industrialists to sow sandalwood saplings on their premises to enhance the growth of sandalwood in the city.
Speaking to DNA after the launch of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents’ ‘Millennium’, KSPCB chairman AS Sadashivaiah, said, “In 2010, we sowed 64 lakh saplings in the state. Of this, 54 lakh saplings were sandalwood.”
According to the board, the project has seen an 80% success rate. “In Bangalore, we have planted 20 lakh sandalwood saplings in industrial areas. We will continue to plant them this year as well,” he said.
The move comes against the backdrop of a drop in the growth of sandalwood trees in the state. About 80% of sandalwood used in the state is procured from other states.
Safety issue
“Sandalwood theft has been increasing and we need a secure place to grow these trees. Apartments and companies have private security; hence the idea,” Sadashivaiah said, adding: “We plan to ask apartment-owners and industrialists to plant silver oak, teak, neem along with sandalwood”.
He said it was highly likely that the project would be successful.
“Reserve Bank of India has planted more than 54,000 saplings on the premises of its printing unit in Mysore. This shows that these trees can be secure in such areas.” The forest department is selling sandalwood saplings for `12 each.
“The tree takes 15 years to grow and more than 20 years to yield. For a good yield, we have to wait for 40 to 45 years,” he explained.