Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is gearing up for the fourth phase of a global e-auction of red sandalwood logs on April 9, the state Assembly was informed on Tuesday.
This information was shared by Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia while answering a question by BJD MLA Arun Sahoo in the House.
He said the auction will be carried out through an e-tendering process enabling international buyers to participate in the sale of this precious wood.
As per official data shared by the Minister, Odisha has a total of 4,539 red sandalwood trees, of which 2,071 have grown naturally while the rest 2,468 were planted as part of afforestation efforts.
In view of the economic and ecological significance of red sandalwood, the state government sought permission from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. As a result, an export restriction on 810.1894 metric tons of red sandalwood has been lifted, permitting its sale by September 6, 2025.
Armed with the approval, the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) has initiated steps to sell 809.7844 metric tons of red sandalwood logs through a global e-auction and e-tendering process. The process has been divided into multiple phases, and so far, three phases have already been completed.
Earlier, a total of 38.7082 metric tons of red sandalwood logs have been sold. These sales have fetched a significant revenue of over Rs 13,70,07,279.
Ensuring the security and proper upkeep of the red sandalwood stock is a costly affair. The annual expenditure for maintenance and monitoring of these logs amounts to over Rs one crore.
With the upcoming e-auction on April 9, Odisha is expected to generate substantial revenue while ensuring the legal and sustainable trade of this highly valuable wood.
