A 27-year-old sugarcane harvesting worker from Maharashtra was fined ₹2,000 for allegedly cutting a sandalwood tree near Anthiyur to use as a support pole while transporting harvested sugarcane in a tractor.More than 20 workers from Maharashtra have been engaged in sugarcane harvesting at Pudukadu near Anthiyur. The harvested cane is transported to a private sugar mill at Appakudal.On Saturday (August 8, 2026), the workers loaded harvested sugarcane onto a tractor. Wooden poles are generally tied to either side of the tractor to prevent the cane from falling during transportation. The workers allegedly cut a nearly 12-foot-long sandalwood tree and other trees in the area and used them as supports.When the tractor reached near Indira Nagar, personnel of the Forest Department’s flying squad, who were on patrol, inspected the vehicle. They found that one of the logs tied to the tractor was sandalwood and informed the Anthiyur Forest Department. Forester Bharathi and other Forest Department personnel reached the spot and seized the tractor.The driver was identified as Sudhil Umaj Rathod, a native of Maharashtra. Officials said he claimed that he had cut the tree without knowing that it was sandalwood. Following the directions of the District Forest Officer, the Forest Department imposed a fine of ₹2,000 on the driver. Published - August 08, 2026 07:48 pm IST