Maharashtra: ‘Sandalwood’ tree valued at Rs 1 crore found to be worth just Rs 10,981, Railway seeks refund

The Office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pusad Division, earlier this year, wrote to the Institute of Wood Science and Technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka, seeking a scientific evaluation of the standing tree on Gut No. 15, Mouja Kharshi, as part of the ongoing land acquisition process for the Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded railway development project. The scientific assessment revealed that the tree was not red sandalwood but Bijasal (Pterocarpus marsupium) instead of Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus), a comparatively common timber species valued at only Rs 10,981.

This revelation has led the railway to file a plea in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court seeking a refund. According to the petitioner’s counsel, Adv Neerja Choubey, the case is set to be heard by the bench probably next week. She also told The Indian Express that the Railways is seeking a  refund of the remaining amount after deducting Rs 10,981.

Adv Anjana Raut Narwade, representing the farmer’s family, told The Indian Express that the officials themselves had identified the disputed tree as red sandalwood in the 2018 award order and had sent it to Bengaluru for valuation. “The railway also admitted before the High Court that it was a red sandalwood tree, although they argued that such a high compensation amount could not be granted. The court order specifically states that it is an undisputed fact that the tree is red sandalwood and directed that its valuation be done on a per-kilogram basis. Now they claim it is Bijasal, but even if it is Bijasal, it is a type of sandalwood and a precious species. The valuation done by the authorities is based on the manner in which illegally felled timber is valued, which is not appropriate in this case,” she said. Narwade also mentioned that during the survey, railway officials, forest officials, and even the collector had concluded that the tree was a red sandalwood tree.

She added that the railway’s fresh application in the matter has not yet been heard by the court and remains pending. “They should have filed their application properly and waited for a decision. Whatever has happened so far is entirely due to official errors; the farmer has done nothing wrong,” she said.

Adv Narwade further noted that the writ petition included this tree along with 30 other trees that were never valued. “There are three such pending cases. For example, khair trees can fetch anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 per kilogram. If a proper valuation had been conducted and incorporated in the award with interest, the total compensation would have been similar to what was granted,” she said. She criticised attempts to publicise the revised valuation before the court delivers its verdict.

The case dates back to October 2024, when Keshav Shinde, a 94-year-old farmer, and his five sons filed a petition demanding compensation for the tree and other assets affected by land acquisition. The family, which had already been compensated for mango orchards and other fruit-bearing trees, had long argued that the tree and a pipeline on their farmland were ignored during compensation settlements.

The Shindes first learned of the tree’s potential value during a survey by railway officials. The family then consulted experts and relied on YouTube videos to confirm its identity, eventually launching a legal battle after eight years of failed follow-ups with the District Collector, Forest Department, Railways, and Irrigation Department. The High Court’s interim order granting Rs 1 crore in compensation now stands in stark contrast to the revised valuation, highlighting lapses in official verification.

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