Perturbed over unabated Red Sanders smuggling Andhra Pradesh government has mooted a plan to have a trench dug around the famous Nallamala Forest to prevent smuggling of the valuable rose wood. The proposed trench covers the forest spread in Kadapa, Chittoor, Prakasam and Nellore districts.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Forest department is going ahead with a plan to dig a 1200 Kms of trench around the Nallamala Forest, to prevent Red Sanders smuggling.

Despite the controversial Seshachalam encounter in which half a dozen of workers from Tamilanadu engaged in Red Sander smuggling were killed in an encounter, there is no let off in the situation. Smuggling of red wood out of the forests continues in Nellore, Prakasam, and Chittoor and Kadapa districts of the state.

Following this, the state forest department has decided to dig out a trench of 1200 Kms of three meters wide and three meters depth around the forest areas, covering the three districts. This, the department hopes would prevent entry and exit of smugglers into the forest areas. Also, the trench would help in elephants venturing into the human habitations from the forest.