Worker fined for cutting sandalwood tree near Anthiyur
A sugarcane worker in Tamil Nadu was fined ₹2,000 for cutting down a sandalwood tree to use as a support pole for his tractor. Forest officials discovered the illegal act during a routine patrol and seized the vehicle.
Why it matters
Sandalwood is a protected species in India, and its illegal harvesting is strictly regulated to prevent smuggling and environmental degradation.
A 27-year-old sugarcane harvesting worker from Maharashtra was fined ₹2,000 for allegedly cutting a sandalwood tree near Anthiyur to use as a support pole while transporting harvested sugarcane in a tractor.
More than 20 workers from Maharashtra have been engaged in sugarcane harvesting at Pudukadu near Anthiyur. The harvested cane is transported to a private sugar mill at Appakudal.
On Saturday (August 8, 2026), the workers loaded harvested sugarcane onto a tractor. Wooden poles are generally tied to either side of the tractor to prevent the cane from falling during transportation. The workers allegedly cut a nearly 12-foot-long sandalwood tree and other trees in the area and used them as supports.
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