Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that India is destined to play crucial role in the post-COVID economy and bamboo is going to be the pivotal nucleus in the future economic resurgence.
Addressing the National Webinar on “Utilization of Bamboo as Alternate Fuel Resource for Cement Plants in India”, the Union Minister said that it is imperative to give Bamboo a Pan-India perspective for its growth and utilisation. He said, Bamboo will be the new fuel of “New Engine” that is “North East” for India’s growth story.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC) is taking all measures for tapping Bamboo resources and technical know-how at All-India level. He said that the Ministry had already decided to develop three Bamboo Clusters in Jammu, Katra and Samba areas for making Bamboo basketry, Agarbatti and Bamboo Charcoal as well as setting up of Bamboo Technology Centre.
The Minister said that his Ministry has started exploring Bamboo reserves in different parts of the country for its exploitation to full potential. He said, during the last four years, the Ministry of DoNER has sanctioned 17 projects for development of bamboo in North Eastern States, including a Bamboo Industrial Park at Dima Hasao in Assam.
The Union Minister said that around 40% area under bamboo is in North Eastern States. However, this potential of Bamboo for the North Eastern Region was not being fully utilized due to restrictions under Indian Forest Act, 1927. He said, the sensitivity with which the Modi government views the importance of promoting Bamboo is evident from the fact that it has amended the century old Indian Forest Act by taking home grown bamboo out of the purview of the Forest Act, in order to enhance livelihood opportunities through bamboo.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, another major reform was to increase the import duty on bamboo sticks raised to 20%. This decision has paved the way for setting up of domestic Agarbatti stick manufacturing units to meet the ever-growing demand of Agarbatti in India. He said, the Agarbatti industry has 5 to 6 thousand crore of market share in India, but bulk of it were imported from countries like Korea and China. But, thanks to the decision of government for hiking the import duty and putting raw batti in restrictive list, domestic Agarbatti industry is taking off in a big way, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Bamboo has great potential for its use as a clean source of energy and can also replace the single use plastic, thus promoting the environment and Climate cause in India.
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