Bamboo potential
In view of the depletion of timber, industry should exploit the potential of bamboo as an importantalternative raw material, by encouraging bamboo plantations and diversifyingits use, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Omar Abdullah said."Encouraging bamboo plantations and imaginative use of bamboo as a materialare the need of the hour, he said adding that increa-sed pressure on forestsand steady depletion of timber and other re-sources, make it imperative forthe country to explore new material for industrial and structuralapplicationand bamboo is a strong and fast-growing material. The model forcultivation and versatile utilisation of bamboo developed in China, was anattractive model for India to follow, which could be implemented by India aswell.