Bamboo cultivation expands despte flowering: FM

Agartala, Mar 10: Tripura Government has taken all efforts to expand bamboo cultivation mainly Muli despite reports of bamboo flowering in different parts in the state.

Forest Minister Jitendra Chowdhury said in the state assembly that though there were reports of bamboo flowering mainly in Muli, there was no reason for fear of increase in rodent population and state government had taken measures for expansion of bamboo cultivation.

The state, famous for bamboo production mainly in Muli, had sent project report of Rs 40 crores seperately to the Union Government to combat the flowering. The Centre has, however, sanctioned Rs six crores as special package for increasing production of bamboo in the North-Eastern region in wake of flowering.

To face the situation, the state government had taken efforts to create new bamboo garden, to save the forest wealth from devastating fire, construction of road and setting up of bamboo-based industry, the minister informed the house.

During the last financial year year, bamboo was cultivated in 3091 hectares of forest land and during this fiscal, a plan has been taken to cultivate bamboo in 2400 hectares, Mr Chowdhury added.

Muli bamboo, after meeting the demands of the state, is exported outside and the state and even abroad.

UNI