Are sandalwood trees safe in Rangers’ College?

By PRABEER SIKDAR

DEHRADUN, 10 June: Rangers’ College, the city centre of FRI’s Shatabdi Van Vigyan Kendra (near Parade Ground), apart from being used as a place to provide training to farmers/ election officials, is also known for its rich and green biodiversity.

A quick stroll inside the 13-acre campus gives one a first hand glimpse of more than a hundred odd foreign species of trees from Myanmar, Africa, China, Honduras, Argentina, Brazil, etc. But the most notable among this foreign lot is Santalum album, the Indian Sandalwood tree.

Half-a-dozen sandalwood trees still stand inside the campus at various places, which have regenerated naturally through seeds from bird droppings. However, an originally planted sandalwood tree (diameter about a metre), whose age could not be known, also stands majestically at the far end of the main building. It is surrounded with iron fencing.

“We are cautious about sandalwood trees and have taken all precautions,” said JS Rana, a worker who looks after the premises. Notably, apart from two security guards, there is also additional security cover provided by two stray dogs – Lalu and Julie.

“These stray dogs have taken shelter inside the campus and always remain ready to pounce on any intruder in the night,” said another worker.

It is worth noting that the Santalum Album variety of sandalwood trees are regarded as of prime kind and is known to yield enough essential oils.

Significantly, because of its importance, anti-socials had also targeted it some years ago. “Four years ago, two sandalwood trees on the west side of the campus were felled, but they did not succeed due to timely intervention of the security guard,” said an employee.Bureaucratic complacency, however, has failed to take appropriate measures regarding a dried sandalwood tree, which has been standing for many years. “It dried up about 9-10 years ago, but as we are not authorised to cut it, it has remained like this,” said another worker at Rangers’ College.

It may be recalled that a few months ago, a watchman had to lose his life after he accosted sandalwood smugglers.

When contacted, Dr S Biswas, Head, Botany Division (FRI) acknowledged that protecting these precious trees was a difficult task. “No sandalwood tree is safe anywhere,” he told Garhwal Post.

Aesthetically, nonetheless, the most beautiful tree inside Rangers’ College is the Podocarpus Gracilior, a tree native to Uganda and Kenya. Densely covered with leaves, elongated and short shaped, the tree is a treat for the eyes from a distance. “It is more than 100 years old,” added Biswas, pointing out that all the 100 plus trees originally planted inside the campus during the 1880’s still survive.

A few trees, however, have given in to natural decay, and perished. There is also an old rubber tree, a huge branch of which had fallen due to a storm, two years ago. “This tree cannot be used for commercial purposes,” stated Biswas.

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