Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu officially opened the Arunachal Pradesh Bamboo and Cane Technology Centre near Itanagar on Monday. He described the plant as the state's green gold and encouraged young people to utilize the resource for entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth. The facility aims to turn the state's vast bamboo reserves into high-value products while providing new livelihoods for local artisans and self-help groups.
The state holds the second-largest bamboo stock in India and supports over 60 distinct species. "Bamboo is not a new subject for us. It has always been an integral part of the social, cultural and economic life of our tribal communities," Khandu said during the inauguration. The new center is designed to act as a primary hub for innovation, professional training, and the commercialization of bamboo-based goods.
Khandu credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for critical policy reforms that reclassified bamboo, making it easier to cultivate and trade commercially. The Chief Minister pointed to a wide range of industrial applications, including furniture, textiles, and biofuel. He also suggested that the state should adopt prefabricated bamboo housing, which offers a cost-effective and sustainable building solution for the earthquake-prone Himalayan region.
To guide these efforts, Khandu instructed the Arunachal Pradesh Bamboo Resources and Development Agency to draft a long-term roadmap for cultivation and industrial processing. He urged local youth to pursue training programs at the center to access both national and international markets. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of broader skill development to ensure the state's workforce remains prepared for upcoming infrastructure and hydropower projects.
Comments