Scared of police cases, tribal people restrain from collecting Vativer from forest

Kadapa: Owing to intensive combing operations of police and forest personnel to nab red-sanders smugglers, tribal people who collect Palachakka, popularly known as Vetiver, finding it difficult to collect the medicinal plant roots in Kadapa district.

Vetiver is a natural medicinal plant which is used for reducing heat, in the production of perfumes, making and for other needs. It is largely available in Nallamala, Seshachalam and Lankamalleswara forests in the district. This medicinal plant is being utilised in soft drink being prepared in the district and is called 'Nannari sharbath.

It is also used in 'Homams' during the rituals in the temples. According to sources, about 3,000 tribal families living in Porumamilla, Railway Kodur, Chakrayapet, Rajampet, Kasinayina, Badvel and Atluru mandals depend on collection of Vetiver in the dense forest areas for their livelihood.

After collecting the roots from the forest, they sell it at Rs 400 per kg to the whole sale traders as it will costs Rs 800 in the retail market. The Nannari sharbath is available in the cool drink shops for Rs 20. The sale of Nannari sharbath is more common in the district and there will be huge demand for the drink during summer.

It is a traditional drink and I sell about 500 glasses every day during the summer season. Now there is huge demand for Vetiver as the tribals are not bringing it to the market for the last 3 years.

Earlier, the cost of the raw material was at Rs 400 per kg in whole sale market, now it is hiked to Rs 800 in wholesale market and Rs 1200 in retail market," said SK Peera Saheb, a trader at Railway Kodur said to The Hans India.

Meanwhile, following rampant infiltration of wood cutters into the forest areas police and forest officials have intensified combing operations . ``Earlier, my family used to earn Rs 5,000 per month through collection Vetiver. Now we lost livelihood as we do not dare to enter in to the forest fearing cases from police,'' said Katari Chenchu Krishnaiah a tribal of Yekiripalli village of Rajampet mandal.

``It is inevitable to implement rules as the culprits are adopting various methods to smuggle red sanders. The smugglers enter forest areas in the guise of tribal people, say a senior police official.