AIZAWL, Nov 11 - With 32.07 per cent of its total geographical area under bamboo cover, Mizoram accounts for 14 per cent of the bamboo cultivation in India.
This was highlighted during a seminar �Bamboo Composite Materials for Structural Applications� held in Aizawl on Friday. The seminar was co-organised by the Mizoram Science, Technology & Innovation Council (MISTIC), Directorate of Science and Technology and Bhopal-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research � Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI).
Davy Lalruatliana, scientific officer at MISTIC, who presented a paper on �Bamboo Resources in Mizoram�, said the total area of bamboo forests in Mizoram is estimated at 6,760.71 square km, which accounts for 32.07 percent of the state�s geographical area.
Mizoram is said to have 36 species of bamboo, of which 24 are indigenous and 12 have been introduced. The dominant species Melocanna baccifera � locally referred to as �Mautak� � constitutes almost 95 per cent of the state�s bamboo forests.
Bamboo forests are found mainly along the river banks and abandoned jhumland as a dominant secondary vegetation.
Speaking at the seminar as the chief guest, Mizoram Bamboo Development Board vice chairman and MLA Dr K Pachhunga said harnessing the state�s rich bamboo resources was one of the top priorities of the Mizoram government under its Socio-Economic Development Programme. Echoing Chief Minister Zoramthanga�s statement, Dr K Pachhunga stressed the need for utilising the abundant bamboos for various composite materials.
Dr SKS Rathore, senior principal scientist, and Dr AK Srivastava, director of CSIR-AMPRI, presented papers on how bamboo can be used as construction materials.
Dr S Murali presented a paper on �Overview and Prospects of Major Bamboo species in India for Multi-purpose Application� while Dr SAR Hashmi presented a paper on �Bamboo composites: A new material of construction.�
