Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003 |
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Karnataka
By Our Special Correspondent
In a press release, he has pointed out that a huge quantity of dried-up bamboo trees is going waste in the forest in the absence of concerted efforts by the Forest Department to utilise it for productive purposes. According to him, bamboo is grown in nearly four lakh hectares to five lakh hectares in the State, which can be used as raw material by paper mills if it is cut and supplied to them at the appropriate time. He said that nearly 10 lakh tonnes to 12 lakh tonnes of dry bamboo were available in the State, of which three lakh tonnes to four lakh tonnes were in the Malnad region, for being used as raw material. This was according to the expert of "Bamboo Mission'' and retired forest officer, A.C.Lakshman, who had taken up an extensive research study on the diverse use of the bamboo, he said. "But the huge quantity of bamboo is being allowed to go waste as a result of negligence and irresponsibility of the Forest Department,'' he said. Dr. Prafullachandra attributed the wastage of dry bamboo to the lack of unanimity on the use and said that while experts on bamboo had suggested that dry bamboo be uprooted, senior officers of the Forest Department were opposed to it. He cautioned that a fire would ravage the forest areas, including invaluable plants, in summer unless dry bamboo trees were harvested. He regretted what he called the steady decline of scientific thinking in conservation and development of forests. Stating that non-removal of dry bamboo would pose a serious threat to the safety of forests, he cited an example to explain the effects that dry bamboo could cause if it was not harvested. According to him, the Malkene variety of bamboo, which grew on a vast area in the Eastern parts of India, led to a boom in rodent population, as its seeds, which were not removed after the flowering season, became a favourite item for them. The menace of rodents assumed unmanageable proportions when they entered the nearby fields and caused damage to standing crops extensively. Dr. Prafullachandra, who is the recipient of several prizes and awards in recognition of his innovations in the improvement of agricultural practices, said that bamboo, which flowered once in three years, was among the few plants that grow rapidly. He pointed out that flowering time for bamboos had ended in the Malnad districts of Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Hassan and it was likely to commence in other parts of the State shortly. He made an appeal to the Government and others concerned to take immediate steps not only to harvest dry bamboo trees from the forests but also ensure their proper use particularly in the production of newspaper. He said that bamboo grown in the State was of super fine quality with multi-purpose utility.
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