Nitin Gadkari calls for greater use of bamboo resources in Northeast

NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Nitin Gadkari has emphasized the need of more intensive use of bamboo resources of the country and the Northeast.

Inaugurating a virtual Bamboo Exhibition on Thursday at Webinar, Gadkari said, 'bamboo has a variety of uses in various fields like buildings and interiors, handicrafts, agarbatti making, garments, bio-fuel resource, etc.''

Gadkari asked various sectors to utilize various modes and methods to bring down logistics costs including choosing more cost-efficient transit modes like water, rail or road. He also informed that a 3 metre dredging of Brahmaputra River has made it possible to use waterways for transporting goods.

''Using river transport would come very handy in transportation cost reduction for Bamboo and Bamboo products originating from the North East,'' he added.

Gadkari also asked the Ministry of DONER to formulate a comprehensive Bamboo Policy as most of the Bamboo is produced in North East. The Minister recalled how he took up the matter of doing away with the need of permission to cut bamboo with the Prime Minister who directed the forest authorities to follow suit as bamboo fell in the category of grass with the character of regeneration.

Calling for production of high yielding bamboo varieties, he said, for industrial use bamboo yield should be 200 tonnes per acre against about 40 tonnes per acre in case of some varieties. The greater yield and wider bamboo usage will open up more employment generation especially in North East India.

Gadkari advised that Bamboo sticks may be reduced to bamboo bales so that moisture is removed therefore making transportation easier and further cheaper as also increasing its calorific value. He suggested IITs may be roped in to undertake a pilot project in this regard.

He also suggested making available more incentives to Bamboo production, processing and handling and said this will go a long way in developing the bamboo based industry.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh said that India is destined to play a major role in Post-COVID economic resurgence and the North Eastern Region will play a crucial role in it with full exploitation of huge Bamboo resources.

''It is imperative to make Bamboo a pan-India perspective for its growth and utilization. Bamboo will be the new fuel of New Engine that is North East for India's growth story,'' he said.

Jitendra Singh also said that ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council is taking all measures for tapping Bamboo resources and technical know-how at all India levels.

He said that the Ministry had already decided to develop three Bamboo Clusters in Jammu, Katra and Samba areas for making of Bamboo basketry, Agarbatti and Bamboo Charcoal as well as setting up of Bamboo Technology Centre. The Minister said that his Ministry is already exploring Bamboo reserves in different parts of the country for exploitation of its full potential. (Agencies)

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