Bamboo policy to be adopted soon in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 25 2012:
The State Government is planning to come out soon with a definite policy on bamboo in order to facilitate large-scale production of bamboo and to ensure public's dependence on bamboo products.
This was stated by Principal Secretary of Forest AK Raina during the inaugural ceremony of a one-day district level workshop organised by Bamboo Development Agency, Manipur under the sponsorship of National Bamboo Mission at the Conference Hall of Forest Directorate located at Sanjenthong today.
Speaking as the chief guest of the function, AK Raina admitted that even though bamboo grows naturally in the soil of Manipur, it could not be produced in abundance in the absence of proper policy on bamboo.
He said, in order to ensure voluminous production of bamboo, the department concerned would formulate a proper policy soon while also urging stakeholders to extend cooperation in this regard.
Asserting that bamboo is a basic raw material for paper industry, Raina also elaborated on the need to maintain balance in destruction of forest and exploiting bamboo.
He expounded the importance of bamboo culturally, economically and ecologically.
The inaugural function was also attended by Director of Agriculture, L Palendro and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, K Thambou as the guest of honour and president respectively.
Pointing out that there are numerous varieties of bamboo, K Thambou said North Eastern states of India are included as large producers in the bamboo map of India.
He said that the National Bamboo Mission was set up under the Ministry of Forest in 2006 to facilitate large-scale production of bamboo.
He added, Bamboo Development Agency has been set up under the mission.
K Thambou noted that the production of bamboo in the State is dwindling.
He added that the department concerned is putting all efforts for sufficient production by using scientific method.
Stating that bamboo is inseparable from mankind, L Palendro said that bamboo serves as raw material for small scale industry that generated employment for many families of the North Eastern states.
A slide show on the maintenance and use of bamboo was presented during the seminar apart from three resource persons sharing their views on the matter.