Govt frees herbs for export, Green brigade cries foul

The environment ministry argues that the open export of these herbs is the only way to prevent traders from being harassed by corrupt forest officials and police. Sharma said, “It was a decision taken by the Environment Ministry in consultation with the Commerce Ministry.”

The ministry was reportedly flooded with complaints from Mumbai herb dealers of harassment for trading in herbs as was permitted under the law. Sources say the herb traders’ lobby had even approached the Union Minister of State for Environment, Babu Lal Marandi. “We then decided to give the traders a free hand with respect to non-endangered herbs. And it was the Commerce Ministry’s suggestion to alter the phrase Legal Procurement Certificate (LPC) to No Objection Certificate (NOC),” says Sharma.

Sharma refutes allegations that the move would endanger the survival of the herbs. “These herbs are quite widely spread and we have them in abundance in India. For every tonne of such herbs, a few grams are exported. So there’s no question of them being wiped out,” he stated.

It’s an argument that cuts little ice with environmentalists. Forests around Mumbai, particularly in Thane district, are facing large-scale denudation with medicinal herbs being indiscriminately removed for exports. According to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) spokesperson Issac Kehimkar, rare species of herbs face mass extinction in view of recent changes in export policies. “Cultivated stocks for exports could be an answer. However it is very difficult to prevent rare species from exploitation,” he says.

There is also the fear that herbs which form the raw material for processing medicines will be manufactured overseas and returned with value added cost. Some of them could even be patented, scientists added.

A senior wildlife warden, requesting anonymity, added that the new rules could facilitate inter-state smuggling. For instance, tubiphora plants which are not found in Tamil Nadu are being exported through Tuticorin port with impunity, he pointed out.

Over 1,236 species of herbs in the country have been declared `threatened’ under the World Conservation International Red List of Endangered Plants. And according to the Red Data Book on Indian Plants, of the 50,000 plant species found India, 5,000 are endemic and endangered.