Chinese team to explore bamboo based factory

Agartala, Nov 7 (UNI) A three-member Chinese delegation of Forestry University led by its Vice-Chancellor will arrive here in the state capital in the last week of this month.

An officer of the State Secretariat said, '' They are likely to arrive here on November 26 or 27. The university team will meet Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Forest Minister Jitendra Choudhury and Additional PCCF Dr V K Bahuguna. During their stop over in the state, the team will explore the feasibility of setting up of a bamboo based unit as well as using of Chinese technology here.

Recently, Mr Choudhury and Dr Bahuguna had visited China to gather experience on bamboo based industries. '' This is a follow up visit of that tour,'' the officer added.

At present only 1-2 per cent of the total extracted bamboo is used for value addition. Around 1.49 lakh artisans are engaged in value addition in bamboo, producing an estimated annual craft sale value of Rs 35.34 crore. The bamboo resource base extends over a land of 2,397 square km of forests.

UNI