TENGAPANI, Nov 2: The ten-day workshop on bamboo, themed ‘Building with bamboo’, concluded at the Golden Pagoda complex here in Namsai district on Friday.
Addressing the valedictory function, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said a vision document would be prepared to draw a roadmap “for development of ecotourism with bamboo in the state.”
He asked Tourism Secretary Sadhana Deori to lead the group of officers preparing the vision document, in consultation with all the stakeholders, including the South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF) and the Integrated Mountain Initiatives (IMI).
“The Northeast is the house of bamboo but it lacks proper entrepreneurship to treat the bamboo and make quality finished products,” Mein said.
The DCM also asked National Green Highway Mission (NGHM) Managing Director Ajoy Bhatacharya to prepare a proposal “for development of green highway in the state.”
He said he would request the GST Council to reduce the GST on bamboo and its products from the present 12% to 5%.
Environment & Forests Minister Nabam Rebia stressed on the importance of scientific management of bamboo for the state, and said, “Arunachal is making all efforts for use of bamboo for sustainable development.”
He said construction of eco-huts, “with all items made up of bamboos, has already been conceptualized and it will be implemented to boost ecotourism.”
The minister invited bamboo experts to visit other parts of the state too, saying the government would provide every logistic support for best utilization of bamboo.
Agriculture Minister Dr Mohesh Chai highlighted the bamboo potentials of the state and said that, “according to statistics on bamboo, Arunachal is sitting on a green gold mine.”
Bamboo specialist Jorg Stamm made a PowerPoint presentation on innovative bamboo structures designed and constructed by his team across the globe, while SABF CEO Kamesh Salam informed that a sample bamboo hut is being constructed from treated bamboo by the workshop team, along with artisans and trainees from the state, in front of the Golden Pagoda.
IMI Secretary Fantry Jaswal Mein, Planning Special Secretary Himanshu Gupta and Namsai DC Tapashya Raghav also spoke. Former Uttarakhand PCCF STS Lepcha and resource persons from the UK and Bhutan also participated.
A panel discussion on ‘Bamboo for ecotourism and sustainability’ was also held. Among others, Deori, APCCF RK Singh, officers from Namsai, artisans, and others participated in it.
The workshop was organized by the SABF and New Delhi-based Building Technology Promotion Council, and sponsored by the Arunachal Pradesh government. (PRO, DCM)
