Binoy Viswom, MP, has written to Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran in connection with the protection of sandalwood trees in Marayur reserve.
He said that SSD (sandalwood spike disease) that caused drying out of sandalwood trees in the Marayur Sandalwood Division was a major issue. In the letter to the Minister, he said that he had done everything as a Minister of Forest in protecting the sandalwood in Marayur.
He said the issue would be raised in Rajya Sabha to bring the attention of the Union government in this regard. Mr. Viswom said that a task force consisting officials of Forest department and scientists should be created. He said there were media reports on increased cases of SSD in the world’s largest natural reserve for sandalwood in Marayur.
