Guwahati, March 6: The Assam government has prepared a “bamboo mission” with the twin objective of augmenting additional revenue and recovering the state’s dwindling forest cover.
The government has identified various hybrid species of fast-growing bamboo to be planted in degraded areas in the state, minister of state for forest Pradyut Bordoloi told newspersons here today. The mission envisages bringing 6,000 hectares of land under bamboo plantation during 2003-06.
For the purpose, the government has taken up the matter with Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) to distribute saplings free to cultivators, particularly to those who are residing within the vicinity of paper mills in Panchgaon in Barak Valley and Jagiroad in Morigaon district. The HPC has also been also asked to buy back the bamboo.
Apart from the economic viability, the bamboo plantations, the minister said, would help recover the state’s forest cover as the hybrid bamboo grows fast.
On the recent allegations against him of fuelling dissident activities in the government, Bordoloi said the allegations were circulated by people with “vested motives” to destabilise the government and the party.
He said he has already discussed the matter with chief minister Tarun Gogoi and would also inform the party high command.
Bordoloi also did not rule out the possibility of some “internal forces” behind such a campaign. “There can be some Trojan horses within the party. They can be anybody and anywhere,” he said.