Gadkari Bats For Bamboo To Generate Employment

Nagpur: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, emphasised the need for more intensive use of bamboo resources in the country. He was speaking while virtually inaugurating the world’s tallest bamboo tower constructed by Bhavya Srishti Udyog (BSU) at Kathiya (Bemetara) near Raipur in Chhattisgarh on World Bamboo Day.Gadkari called upon the state govt to make a policy on bamboo that will be inclusive of rural development. He stated that rural development has a key role to play in making India a $4 trillion economy. The minister praised BSU’s Ganesh Verma who had earlier created the world’s first 200 metres bamboo crash barrier known as ‘Kooch Kavach’ on the Wani-Warora NH960 in the region. Now, 80km of such crash barriers have been constructed on various highways.Bamboo has the potential to create huge employment opportunities as it has a variety of uses in fields like buildings and interiors, handicrafts, garments, biofuel resources etc. “From construction to energy and automotive sectors, bamboo can create employment opportunities and contribute to rural development,” said Gadkari who also advocated the use of bamboo as an alternative to coal, stating that a policy is in the making on the use of white coal in power plants. The use of bamboo in the energy sector will make the country export-oriented rather than import-oriented.With the right policies and initiatives in place, India can harness the benefits of bamboo and move towards a more sustainable and export-oriented economy.The 140-foot bamboo tower inaugurated by Gadkari on Wednesday is an eco-friendly replacement for electric transmission and telecom towers, high-mast light poles, and watch towers. It provides a sustainable alternative to conventional steel. BSU has constructed the tower from vacuum pressure impregnation treated and high-density polyethylene coated bamboo, with a minimum lifespan of 25 years, and can be transported easily due to its lightweight.Gadkari also mentioned that cities like Bengaluru are using bamboo in construction, and other cities have restaurants, resorts, and interiors made out of bamboo. He also stated that Indian Oil plans to start 400 pumps of bioethanol made from bamboo, while companies like Toyota and Maruti are launching cars with flex-fuel engines designed to run on any ethanol-based fuel. Plans are also afoot to run planes on bio-aviation fuel, where bamboo will play a key role.According to Sunil Joshi, a bamboo expert and BSU adviser, technologically proven, cost-effective and attractive product designing can establish and promote the use and demand of bamboo, which will encourage people to take up bamboo plantation. “Bamboo can be used to great advantage as furniture material and also as a substitute for steel,” said Joshi.