Lapses detected
there are many lapses prevalent in sandalwood protection and storage, reveals the sixth report prepared by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on forest, ecology and environment and the Women and Child Welfare Department of the state legislature of Karnataka. The report, pertaining to the years 1992 to 2000, also reveals that forest land is being illegally occupied and that the western ghats development programme is moving at a snail's pace. The PAC chairperson said that the storage depot at Tarikere has not accounted for 153 metric tonnes of sandalwood costing Rs 2.45 crore. The report has recommended legal action against the authorities.