like the notorious sandalwood smuggler, Veerappan, the Karnataka government's promised reforms in sandalwood trade also remain elusive. On August 4, 2001, the Karnataka legislative assembly passed amendments to its forest act, supposedly deregularising the sandalwood trade. The state government ostensibly claims to have lifted government monopoly over sandalwood trade and given some rights to private landowners over sandal tree plantation. Though the amendments have changed the tone of the act, the government's monopoly remains.

After the amendments, new sandal trees growing in any private land will not be