MARAYUR: 68.632 tonnes of sandalwood in 169 lots has been prepared for e-auction. Kolkata-based Metal and Scarp Trading Company is in charge of the e-auction, which will be held in four phases on 13th and 14th.

Those who pay the fee along with necessary documents can participate in the auction. An additional tax of 25 percent will have to be paid as 18 percent GST, 5 percent forest development tax and 2 percent general tax. This is the second auction this year. The last auction was held on March 15 and 16. Sandalwood worth Rs 31 crore was sold in three phases over two days.

Before Covid, the government used to get up to Rs 80 crore annually through Marayoor sandalwood e-auction. Sandalwood required for temples is also included in the auction. Though there are many temples and Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing companies operating in Kerala, this is the only sandalwood auction in Kerala but the participants are few. A small number of lots have also been prepared for small institutions and temples.

Auctions generally bring up for sale those that fall in sandalwood reserves are plucked by wild animals or are processed from private revenue land and brought to godowns. Apart from this, sandalwood seized from smugglers is also auctioned.

8.055 tonnes of Bagradad sandalwood of Class VI will be auctioned in 20 lots. There is 8.179 tonnes of Jai Pogal sandalwood of 10th grade in 10 lots. 4.481 tons of 5th class Ghat Badla, 3.150 tons of 3rd class Pancham, 3.642 tons of Chandanavers, 500 kg of 2nd class China Buddha and 258 kg of 4th class Godla were put up for auction. 6.335 tonnes of mixed chips. 15 tonnes of sandalwood (sap wood billets) and 17.5 tonnes of chips have been laid.

Before Covid, the government used to get up to Rs 80 crore annually through auctions. Sandalwood worth 31 crores was sold this year.

Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Company, a PSU in Karnataka auctions the largest amount of sandalwood every year. They bought 90 percent in the last auction. Jaipur CMT Arts India Private Limited, Jaipur Cloud, Kerala Handicrafts Development Corporation, Kottayam Manakkat Ayyappa Temple Trust, Thrissur Aushadhi, Karnataka Handicrafts, Mulikulangara Kalarikal Bhagavathy Devaswom, Thrissur Sri Seetharamaswamy Temple, Munnar K F D C, Adarche Trust and Ernakulam Ambuja Center have also participated in the e-auction in previous years.