Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in Kerala exploring legal options to get ‘bhasmam’ from Forest dept.

Even as amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, introduced by the Kerala government allowing culling of wild animals that stray into human habitats, have kicked off a debate, Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers in the State are mulling over legal ways to get the benefit of another amendment to the Act brought in by the Centre two years ago that permits incineration of horns and tusks of dead animals.

Earlier, the government did not allow burning of seized animal horns, deer antlers, and elephant tusks worth crores of rupees, which are kept in the custody of the Forest department. The amendment that came into effect in 2023 says that “Any wild animal article, trophy or uncured trophy, or meat derived from any wild animal, which is a State government or Central government property, as the case may be, under sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 39 shall be disposed of in the following manner, namely – a) the Director, Wildlife Preservation, or the Chief Wildlife Warden or an officer authorised, in writing, by the Central government or the State government, as the case may be, may by order direct the incineration of such government property at such place and such date and time as mentioned in the order.”

Export value too

Functionaries of the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI), meanwhile, say that the ‘bhasmam’ or the ash from the incinerated tusks and deer antlers is a main component in making Ayurvedic medicines, some of which have export value as well. D. Ramanathan, AMMOI general secretary, says that legal options are being explored to get the ash released from the department in view of its shortage in the market.

Forest department officials, however, say that it may not be legally possible in the current circumstances to provide the ash for manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines. As per the law, the incineration shall be conducted in the presence of a committee constituted by the Chief Wildlife Warden. An officer not below the rank of the Deputy Conservator of Forests having custody of such property, a representative of the local grama panchayat, a representative of the Revenue department not below the rank of tahsildar, and an expert in the field of wildlife shall be its members. The committee shall submit a report on the incineration to the Chief Wildlife Warden within a period of 10 days.