The whisper in the forest is growing louder. Deep within the sacred Seshachalam hills of Andhra Pradesh lies a tree whose roots intertwine myth and ecology — the red sanders. Revered as divine in local belief, it stands today threatened by greed, smuggling and neglect.
But on 8-9 November 2025, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan raised his voice. Not for another photo‐op, but for action. In a review that spanned five districts, he pledged a “nation-style” operation — modelled after the famed anti-Maoist Operation Kagar — to protect the forest, the tree… and perhaps, the soul of a region.
Why this matters:
The red sanders (scientifically Pterocarpus santalinus) is not just wood — it’s heritage. Local lore says it sprang from the wound of Lord Venkateswara himself, and the forest it grows in is considered sacred.
Between 2019 and 2024, nearly 200,000 trees were felled in rampant smuggling. Logs worth up to ₹10,000 crore may have been siphoned out.
The new plan is hard-edged: barcode and geo‐tag every seized log; identify kingpins; seize assets; tough enforcement. The signal is clear — cut one tree and expect consequences.
What comes next:
First, the technology roll-out: every log tracked from seizure to godown. Then, legal muscle: properties of smugglers in the crosshairs. Finally, inter‐state coordination: the network sprawls beyond Andhra, so the clampdown must too.
The deeper lens:
This isn’t just about logging — it’s about belief, environment, livelihood. When a tree is stolen, a story is lost. When a forest is pillaged, the climate suffers, ecosystems fracture, local people lose. Among the green hills and hidden corridors, the battle is for far more than wood.
Your take:
Next time you pass a polished red sanders product — a piece of furniture, an ornamental item — ask: where did it come from? The answer might lead you back to Seshachalam, to a forest that once whispered of sanctity, and now echoes with the sound of boots and barcodes.
Let’s hope the next whisper is of regrowth.
