150-yr-old sandalwood tree in Idukki 'made safe from thieves'

Marayur: The biggest sandalwood tree existing on private land in Kerala was uprooted and shifted to a safe location under the combined efforts of the forest and revenue departments. 

The 150-year-old sandalwood tree in a plot of Kanthalloor native Soman has been pulled up and brought to the government's sandalwood godown in Marayur, Idukki. 

Earlier, three huge branches of the sandalwood tree were chopped and robbed twice from the tree that was worth over Rs 1.5 crore. Mathrubhumi had reported the theft and demanded to ensure the safety of the tree. 

Similar thefts were reported in the locality. Later, Marayur district forest officer MG Vinod Kumar informed the district collector regarding the sandalwood tree, who directed the sub-collector of Devikulam and the tehsildar to take necessary actions