State will receive Rs 18 crore for expansion of bamboo

Agartala, Nov 05 (UNI) The Centre has granted Rs 18 crore to the Tripura Government to save bambooes from flowering and expansion purpose.

State forest minister Jitendra Chowdhury said of the total amount, the state has already received Rs 7 crore for expansion of bamboo plantation as well as to save it from wiping out due to flowering in the state.

In every 50 years flowering takes place in muli bamboo and the plants die after bearing fruits. The state has been combating it scientifically and the forest department purchasing the fruit for Rs ten a kg from the growers.

A number of nursery has been set up in the state as well bamboo garden in new places to face the crisis of the bamboo. The Rs 7 crore would be spent for creating such gardens, the minister said.

It may be mentioned here that muli bamboo after meeting the state's demand had been exporting outside the state in large quantities. The muli-sticks are used to prepare Agarbatis outside the state mainly in Banglore. Besides, bamboo is being exported to various paper mills in the neighbouring states, including Asom.

UNI PB KK/src1158