The Lieutenant Governor (L-G), V K Saxena, has directed all land owning agencies to undertake horticultural activities to plant 10,000 sandalwood (chandan) trees across the national Capital, so as to effectively monetise their land resource. The L-G has also appealed to farmers and small land holders apart from farm house owners in the city to plant at least four chandan trees. According to officials, the agencies like DDA, MCD, Delhi Parks and Garden Society, Delhi Biodiversity Society and others have been advised to complete the plantation of these trees during the on-going monsoon season itself.
“By doing so, the often resource deficient farmers could easily depend on two trees for the education of their children and the remaining two could be utilized for aiding their future careers,” said Saxena.
“Plantation of Sandalwood, apart from adding to the flora diversity of the city and enriching the general environs, will lead to monetization of government land and create immense financial assets for the land-owning agencies and farmers and land-holders in the city,” said the official.
“A sandalwood tree matures in 12 to 15 years and as per the current rates, sells at Rs 12- 15 lakh each. At this rate, around 10,000 sandalwood trees are estimated to fetch between Rs 12,000 -15,000 crores upon maturity,” said the official.
The L-G informed that contrary to refrain in certain circles that chandan trees cannot come up in climatic conditions present in Delhi and other locations in the country, all these trees, including the ones that he got planted at Rajghat in Delhi, had in an year not only survived, but robustly grown to a height of 9-10 feet.
“This exercise of chandan tree plantation apart from monetizing available land resources, will create assets for self-sustainability, generate employment and support the Indian sandalwood, sandalwood oil and perfume industry that depends on importing large quantities of sandalwood oil and powder,” said L-G.
“It will help India become not only Atma Nirbhar in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, but emerge as global leader in an industry where the demand far out numbers supply,” the LG stressed.