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Combing for smugglers prevent tribals from collecting vatti verlu
Tribals have lost livelihood of collecting ‘vatti verlu’ from the Nallamalla forest as the cops and officials of the Forest department have intensified combing operations to nab the red sanders smugglers.
Kadapa: Tribals have lost livelihood of collecting ‘vatti verlu’ from the Nallamalla forest as the cops and officials of the Forest department have intensified combing operations to nab the red sanders smugglers.
The roots of the plant are being used for reducing the heat from the human body. The medicinal plant is being used in making soft drink in the Kadapa district with the name ‘Nannari Sharbat’.
The plant is available abundantly in the mandals like Porumamilla, Railway Kodur, Rajampet, Chakrayapet, Kasinayana, Badvel and Atlur which are located close to Nallamala forest. According to sources, around 1,000 tribal families have taken up collection of medicinal plant in the dense forest of Nallamala as their livelihood.
They sell the roots of the plant for Rs 300 to 500 per kg to the wholesale traders and it is being sold Rs 800 per kg in the retail market. ‘Nannari Sharbat’ is available in the soft drink shops for Rs 20 per glass. The plant is also being used in homams in the temple rituals.
The roots have huge demand during the peak summer season as people prefer to drink ‘Nannari Sharbat’ than consuming soft drinks. “It is a traditional drink and I sell at least 500 glasses every day during the summer season. People will get maximum relaxation as the heat comes out of the body through urination once the drink is consumed,” said Sk Khadar Vali, who is running a cool drink shop, near bus stand in Railway Kodur.
He stated that cost of 1 kg roots of the plant has increased to Rs 800 in the wholesale market and Rs 1,200 per kg in the retail market. The rise in price was attributed to tribals not bringing the plants into the market. Katari Chenchu Krishnaiah, a tribal from Yekiripalli village in Rajampet mandal, has said that he used to earn Rs 5,000 per month by collecting ‘vatti verlu’ from the forest.
“Now, we have lost livelihood with restriction on entry into the forest,” he lamented. But, a police official said that they have restricted the entry of tribals into the Nallamalla forest as red sanders smugglers are entering the forest in the guise of tribals collecting medicinal plants. “It will be difficult for cops to identify whether the person is a tribal or woodcutter,” he added.
