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Forest department’s U-turn leaves artisans in lurch
In a big disappointment to artisans of Kondapalli toys, the forest department changed its plan to open deports to supply ‘Tellaponiki’ wood for making toys. The artisans, who are being plagued with lack of shortage of wood in the nearby forest are dealt a blow with the forest department’s decision. It should be recalled that the shortage of wood lead to many families leaving the profession.
Amaravati: In a big disappointment to artisans of Kondapalli toys, the forest department changed its plan to open deports to supply ‘Tellaponiki’ wood for making toys. The artisans, who are being plagued with lack of shortage of wood in the nearby forest are dealt a blow with the forest department’s decision. It should be recalled that the shortage of wood lead to many families leaving the profession.
Highlights:
- Government promised to open depot to supply wood but forest department was unable to procure it
- Artisans are procuring wood from Nirmal in Telangana at a premium
- Allege pollution from NTTPS is leading to shortage of trees
Though state government chalked out plans to supply Tellaponiki wood through depots, it has dropped them due to lack of sufficient trees in other forest areas as well. The sources of forest department confirmed that they could develop plantations, if the artisans come forward to take responsibility to nurture the trees.
According to artisans, toys are made by using Tellaponiki wood, which they used to collect from Kondapalli forest in the past. Now the situation is different, as trees are no longer seen and artisans allege pollution from Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) as a reason.
“Tellaponiki tree wood is most suitable for making toys. Nearly 35 cubic meters wood is required for monthly needs of 200 families of toy makers,” said Udayagiri Suryaprakasa Rao, founder president Kondapalli Artisans Association.
Speaking to The Hans India, he said that presently wood was not available in Kondapalli forest. He said the artisans were waiting for the implementation of government’s decision to start wood depots but with the forest department’s U turn the dark clouds were back.
As per the sources, presently the artisans have been purchasing wood from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Nirmal of Telangana State. Moreover, the artisans are paying higher amounts, besides being unable to get wood on time.
Krishna district forest department executive engineer Benarjee said that even though the government made a proposal to start depots to supply wood, procuring wood turned out to be humongous task. “The government is ready to develop plantations in the local forest, if the artisans would take responsibility to protect them up to grow as trees,” he stated.
By Patibandla Srinivas
