The commerce ministry has given time till December to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to complete the process of export of red sanders wood.
"Time till December 2019 has been allowed to the DRI" and these states "to finalise the modalities and complete the entire process of export of balance quantity of red sanders wood allocated," the directorate general of foreign trade gas said in a notification.
The wood is an endangered species of flora protected under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna. It is illegal to possess and sell the same.
Red sander is found mainly in the Seshachalam hill ranges spread across Kadapa, Chittoor and Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region and parts of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.
The wood has huge demand abroad, especially in China and Japan, where it commands a good price. As per reports, the wood fetches Rs 25 lakh a tonne in the international market.
It is a valued item in traditional medicines and woodcraft across China, Myanmar, Japan and East Asia.
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