The Hindu Business Line : Govt to remove bamboo from forest produce list

IN a significant policy shift, the Kerala Government has decided to remove bamboo and related items like reed and cane from the list of forest produce.

The move, aimed at accelerating the growth of the fledgling bamboo industry in the State, will facilitate free felling of the stocks in one's own lands without having to get the permission of the Forest Department.

According to Mr C.P. John, Member, State Planning Board, the accessible stocks of bamboo, reed and cane in the forest areas have become scarce, as a result of which tapping the inaccessible stocks there has become a costly proposition.

Under the new dispensation, bamboo and other produces can be grown close to the processing units.

Apart from industrial applications, bamboo could also be used for raising roadside embankments, protection of river-banks and waterfront vegetation.

With this in view, the Government has now decided to include bamboo in the materials schedule of Public Works and Irrigation departments.

Under the State's Bamboo Mission, 40,000 seedlings have already been brought from Tripura and distributed them to 10 grama panchayats where traditional artisans are concentrated.

Besides, the Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute and the Kerala Forest Research Institute have been roped in to undertake research activities on bamboo cultivation.

On the industry side, the State Bamboo Development Corporation has entered into a memorandum of understanding with National Mission for Bamboo Application for making available the latest matting technology featuring fibreglass coating.

To begin with, this will help modernise the bamboo units situated in Angamaly.

The training of traditional artisans to upgrade their skill to roll out high-end products such as blinds, lampshades and furniture - the demand for which has gone up in tandem with the growth of the tourism industry - is also part of the overall strategy.

The Bamboo Mission has been conducting such courses for artisans in association with the National Institute of Design.

A major programme in the pipeline is for using the bamboo stock in Wayanad, which originally catered to the Gwalior Rayons mills at Mavoor.

After the closure of the mills, there has been no demand for the produce.

The programme envisages establishment of bamboo units in a park to be set up by Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation.

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