Timber traders in the Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu are resorting to the importation of timber, including teak, from countries such as Indonesia and Nigeria due to the existing prohibition on tree cutting in the region. This ban, which originated from Indira Gandhi’s implementation of a comprehensive 20-point plan in 1975 aimed at forest protection and environmental preservation, has effectively halted tree felling activities.
These traders are sourcing timber like vengai and teak from overseas destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria, with the imported timber typically arriving at Thoothukudi via sea routes. Subsequently, timber merchants in the vicinity of Thoothukudi engage in the buying and selling of tree varieties such as teak and vengai. Although there are machines available for cutting trees into manageable pieces, the absence of machinery for transportation persists. Even today, regardless of the volume of wood, the transportation method predominantly relies on manual labour, utilizing logs to move the timber.
Two individuals manually manoeuvre a tree weighing approximately five to six tons using logs, positioning it carefully in front of the cutting machine. Subsequently, the machine precisely divides the tree into two sections. Following this initial cutting process, the sections are then transported to another machine, where they are tailored to the specific dimensions requested by customers. Moreover, the by-products generated during the cutting process, such as pellets, are also separately sold. Additionally, the cut logs are further processed by this machinery and segmented into various sizes suitable for applications like windows, flooring and roofing.
Ramakrishnan, a seasoned craftsman with four decades of experience, shared insight into their work process, stating, “Irrespective of the weight, we manually transport logs using blocks and position them within the machinery. Our operation relies solely on two sawing machines. We tailor the cutting of logs to meet the specific demands of customers, crafting horizontal windows accordingly. Once prepared, we dispatch the finished products.”
The cost ranges from Rs 5000 to Rs 50,000, varying according to the preferences and requirements of our customers.
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