Bengaluru: With the idea of making farming activities more profitable and to ensure that there is no shortage of sandalwood in the state in the future, the state forest department has decided to liberalize the rules related to the sandalwood cultivation. As per the proposed amendment to the Karnataka Tree Act 1927, the forest department is planning to allow all the citizens to grow Sandalwood without any permission from the department.

As per the proposal, the farmers will be allowed to buy sandalwood saplings from the open market and sell it in the open market if it is grown in their land.

“As per an estimation, Rs.15 lakh can be earned per sandalwood tree once it reaches 15 years of age. In one acre land, a farmer can earn up to Rs.2.5 crores, 15 years after the planting saplings. Keeping all this in mind and also keeping in mind the increasing demand for sandal oil and sanders, the department has dsecided to relax the norms, said an officer from Forest Department.

“A note in this regard will be sent to the state cabinet soon,” he added.