ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh has contributed towards sealing the porous 4,095 km Indo-Bangladesh border to prevent infiltration and insurgents with the state’s bamboo used for the purpose effectively.
Altogether 3,500 seedlings of the Bambusa bamboo, a dense and thorny variety, were taken by the Indian Army in 2006 from the Van Vigyan Kendra (VVK) at Chessa in Papum Pare district, located about 50 km from here, to plant along the international boundary which has served the purpose, according to VVK scientist R K Taj.
Parliamentary Secretaries Chow Tewa Mein (Environment & Forest) and Nabam Rebia (Planning & Development) given this information when they visited VVK, the only such Botanical research institute in the North East India spread in eight hectare area, on Thursday.
While inspecting the Kendra that boasts of many rare and endangered species, including 4,500 flowering plants and 185 plant species, the duo were surprisingly shocked to see the only cane or rattan garden of the country with 12 varieties.
On being briefed by VVK director GN Roy and DFO (Silviculture) Chukhu Loma and a group of scientists, both of them at a public function later announced to make the best use of the VVK.
Mein, who got diploma in bamboo from China in 1993, said, “Arunachal with over 82 per cent forest cover is the lung, purifying the global air pollution with green cover disappearing all over the world.”
He wondered if bamboo could enrich China’s coffer immensely why not Arunachal for India.
Referring to both Bamboosetum (having 60 native and exotic species and first ever in NE, and cantum (cane), they advocated that the numerous saplings, including fast growing species sold at Rs five per piece should be popularized for commercial production by converting VVK into a people-centric institution.
They also underscored the importance of the nearby seed farm of the agriculture department at Sonajuli, spread in 106 hectare geographical area and 40.8 hectare cultivated area, which supplies paddy seeds to various parts of the state on the western bank of Brahmaputra, while the other farm at Tezu in Lohit district supplies seeds to the area on eastern bank of the mighty river.
Mein earlier inaugurated the head work of an irrigation system over Sonajuli river built by the Poma RWD division at a cost of Rs 60 lakh under the RKVY, to irrigate water to the farm.
Rebia, who is the local MLA, responding to a memorandum of the villagers, informed that New Delhi would be pursued for early sanction of the 37 km Tarajui-Hollongi road for improving connectivity to the village with 6,000 population.
He disclosed that land has already been allotted in the area for the Army brigade Headquarters (HQs).
He urged Assam government to cooperate in speedy establishment of Arunachal HQs of the Border Roads Organization at the land located at Gorubanda nearby in national interest as BRO is a national agency.
The villagers Nyishis, Karbis and Chakmas presented a colourful cultural programme reflecting the spirit of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence with the non-Arunchalees.
The village has few Chakma families besides in Changlang and Lohit districts. (UNI)