New Delhi, Dec 17 (KNN) To set up an Agarwood Board of India under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Rajya Sabha members on Friday supported a private members’ resolution for it.

Moved in the Rajya Sabha by BJP member Biplab Kumar Deb from Tripura, the resolution calls for development of agarwood sector with its headquarters in Tripura’s Agartala, reported The Print.

He demanded the government to smoothen the procedure for export of products made from agarwood such as oil, dry roots, chips which he thinks can do business of around Rs 5,000 crore.

Pointing towards the illegal trade (export or import) of agarwood products, he suggested that the government should formalise its trade which will also help it garner tax revenue.

The resolution urged the government to empower the board to identify the issues, simplify the processes, and encourage different central and state ministries to work in collaboration for the overall development of agarwood sector.

It also demanded the government to ensure support for promotion of the sector, prescribe policies that make it easier for growers to grow and harvest agarwood, and incentivise its industrial use.  (KNN Bureau)