ITANAGAR, Sep 13: In a bid to popularize and promote bamboo as a super construction material, a mobile application on bamboo housing and construction, called ‘Bamtech’, was launched by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein at the civil secretariat here on Thursday.
The mobile application holds essential features with information regarding the usage of bamboo for housing, construction, making of furniture, and manufacture of quality products.
Noting that the usage of bamboo for housing and other construction is traditional and part of the state’s local culture, Mein expressed hope that the application would benefit local youths, artisans and entrepreneurs of the state in exploring opportunities in the commercialization of bamboo.
“Our state is a repository of bamboo resources, having the highest bamboo reserves in the entire NE region with 74 species of bamboo and 15000 sq kms of bamboo coverage. We must find a solution for its full utilization, and should not remain to limited local usage of bamboo,” said Mein.
Founder and CEO of the South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF), Kamesh Salam, gave a presentation highlighting the functions of the application.
He informed that the advantage of the app is to promote bamboo housing under the Prime Minister’s Awaas Yojna, besides homestay housing, tourist cottages, etc.
He also provided information on the proper use of bamboo, starting from treatment to the latest technology.
“Bamboo could be the sustainable material and solution to the government of India’s plan to construct 3 crore houses by 2022,” he said.
To create a niche for bamboo in ecotourism in the country, where Arunachal Pradesh would take the lead, a workshop on ‘building with bamboo’ will be organised at Namsai from 24 October to 2 November to benefit the local people of the state.
The programme will be organised by the state government in collaboration with the SABF and the Building Material Technology Promotion Council (BMPTC).
The workshop will be conducted by renowned bamboo designer and expert on bamboo housing, Jorg Stamm, who has the credit of making some of the most beautiful bamboo structures in the world, including the Green School in Bali, Indonesia.
Participants from the state and other parts of India, besides SAARC nations, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are expected to attend the workshop in Namsai.
Bamtech was developed by the SABF under the sponsorship of BMPTC of the union urban housing & urban affairs ministry.
Apart from the app, the SABF also spelt out plans for more economic development programmes in the region, including biofuel.
Tax & Excise Minister Jarkar Gamlin, Education Minister Honchun Ngandam, and Namsai MLA CZ Namchoom also shared their views for successful utilization of bamboo technology in the state.
Among others, Planning Commissioner Kaling Tayeng, secretaries and officers of various departments attended the launch programme. (PRO, DCM)
