IMPHAL, Oct 26 ? The Manipur Government has proposed to the North Eastern Council (NEC) for allocation of Rs 738.09 lakh from the NE funding agency?s 2004-05 annual plan outlay for utilisation in bamboo rehabilitation and re-plantation projects in Tamenglong district of Manipur where rodents have caused widespread devastation of bamboo plants and ripening paddy jhum fields.
The proposal was placed by the State Planning Department to the NEC Secretary detailing the destruction caused by the rodent menace on food crops after the phenomenon of flowering of bamboo plants through most part of the district, official sources said.
The proposal follows after the first phase cane and bamboo development project in Manipur's Tamenglong district bordering Nagaland and Assam ran into rough weather. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), jointly sponsored by the Manipur government and the Union Ministry of Rural Development for a period of three years upto 2005 envisaging to tap abundant natural bamboo and cane resources by applying advanced technologies to produce handicraft items and other household goods, appeared to be slow progress. The State Government had already sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the project.
Besides, Tamenglong Bamboo and Cane Development Organization (TAM-BAC), has surprisingly been sealed even before it could kick start its second phase operation properly due to State Government?s failure to provide its capital share despite Union Ministry of Rural Development releasing Rs 75 lakh in 2002, project co-ordinator Nhemiah Panmei said.
With the primary objectives of generating employment, controlling jhuming cultivation and boosting economic activities, the first phase of the project had already been taken up in 68 villages giving benefit to around 48,000 in the district. The products have been taken to various national and international fairs.
In Tamenglong district, there are around 500 square kilometres of bamboo growth of various varieties. The worst problem faced in the district was the poor roads and transport facilities. Destruction of bamboo and cane is common at present in this district. Thousands of bamboo plants have been sold to Hindustan Paper Plant, Silchar (Assam).
Besides, huge quantities of bamboo are sent to Assam and Mizoram through the riverine routes from Manipur via Jiri river. Bamboo smuggling is more rampant during the monsoons. The north-east States account 54 percent of bamboo products of the country. Of the total 13.47 million tonnes of bamboo harvested in the country, 6.47 tonnes is being produced in the north-eastern States.