AP govt to sell 4000 MT red sanders via e-tender-cum-e-auction

Andhra Pradesh government today said it will sell over 4,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of red sanders in log form through e-tender-cum-e-auction process from November 24 by inviting global tenders.
The state government had earlier twice postponed the auctioning due to "administrative contingencies".
The Director General of Foreign Trade, Government of India, has accorded extension permission by six months to sell and export red sanders wood by Andhra Pradesh government latest by April 30 2015 and further mentioned that the permission granted is subject to such orders, as passed by the High Court of Madras, AP Forest Department Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A V Joseph said today in a statement.

It further said that as on date there is no order from any court in India restraining Andhra Pradesh government from the proposed global tender.
Hence, the state government notifies that the red sanders wood will be sold by e-tender-cum-e-auction through MSTC Ltd from November 24 to December 1.
The intending tenderers or their representatives can inspect the lots notified for sale on any working day between 10:30 am to 05:00 pm up to November 22. The intending domestic and international tenderers shall register themselves with the MSTC Ltd.

Red sanders grow mainly in the Seshachalam hill ranges spread across Kadapa, Chittoor and Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region and parts of Nellore district in AP.

The wood has huge demand abroad, especially in China and Japan, where it commands a good price. Red sanders is a valued item in traditional medicines and woodcraft across China, Myanmar, Japan and East Asia and each tonne of red sanders commands a price of Rs 25 lakh in the international market.
In the past few years, there could not be any sale of red sanders in the international market due to the EXIM policy.