"This could be the beginning. But the ideal situation for developing bamboo processing industry would be when bamboo is freed completely from the draconian laws restricting its plantation and transportation," said Goswami talking to TOI from Gaya in Bihar where he is on a special assignment of the Union agriculture department as bamboo consultant.
"Activists in the state have been waging a struggle against the forest department's total control on bamboo. But despite all efforts Maharashtra government has failed to come out with the much-needed bamboo policy to compliment the twin National missions on bamboo and its applications floated by the Union government to promote use of bamboo as alternative to forest timber," said Goswami.
He believes that Ramesh has made this announcement just to facilitate `Nistar' rights of tribals. To make it easier for traditional tribal craftsmen using bamboo, special powers could be given to gram sabhas to issue transport permits, he added. "This is indeed a positive move as insensitive forest officials deprived the tribals of raw material that could help them earn a living. Bamboo is left decaying in depots and released to `burads' (craftsmen) only when it is useless," said Goswami hoping that things would change after Ramesh's new move. Read the full report here.
Source: Times News Network, Nagpur.
