Call for utilisation of State’s bamboo resources
SHILLONG: Forests and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday inaugurated a four-day Training cum workshop on ‘Building with Bamboo’ at Lady Hydari Park, here.
The event is being organized by the Forests and Environment Department and the South Asian Bamboo Foundation and sponsored by Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMPTC), to impart skill and knowledge to local artisans and architects on use of bamboo as a construction material.
Speaking on the occasion, Tynsong stressed on the uses of bamboo in construction of BPL houses in the State, and added that the houses built under the Indra Awas Yojana, if made with bamboo, would be a great boon to the State.
Asserting that that the State has rich bamboo resources with 4793 square kilometres of bamboo cover, he said it will be appropriate to promote bamboo houses.
He recommended construction of bamboo houses on a pilot basis as it is economical, eco friendly and durable.
He also spoke on the need to explore the technology developed by BMPTC and IPRITI in constructing such houses.
TTC Marak, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, in his address said bamboo is amazingly versatile and a sustainable building material which grows very fast in a wide range of climate.
“With wood scarcity, the value of bamboo as a building material has become more apparent,” he added.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Sharad Gupta, Deputy Chief, BMPTC, Jagdish Vangela, IPRITI, Bangalore, Kamesh Salam, Founder and Executive Director, South Asia Bamboo Foundation, Anoop Kr. Shrivastava, CCF and Mission Director State bamboo Mission, and architects Mausam Das and Silchi Marak.
The workshop was attended by officials from the Forest, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Departments, IIM Shillong, NIFT Shillong, MBDA, NERCORMP, BSI, experts from IPRITI and BMPTC and SHG members, local architects and artisans from all over the State. Practical training on various applications, technology, treatment and processing of bamboo related to bamboo houses construction will be imparted during the training. A model bamboo structure will be erected by the trainees during the workshop.