Chatham Saw Mill, once Asia’s largest Saw Mill is located in Chatham Island & is connected to Port Blair by a Sea bridge. Since the Supreme Court of India banned logging in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, most of the wood now comes by ship from Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. Chatham Saw Mill converts huge Logs into different sizes of timber. It also processes ornamental species which is used in the manufacture of furniture and handicraft.
Located on Chatham Island (reached by a road bridge), the saw mill was set up by the British in 1836 and was one of the largest wood processors in Asia. Inside is the forest museum, which displays locally grown woods, including padauk, and has displays on the history of timber milling on the island. It may not be to everyone’s taste – especially conservationists – but it gives a different perspective on the islands’ history and economy.
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