GUWAHATI, Jan 9 � Seeking intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in harnessing the State and the North-east�s immense potential in the bamboo sector, Bamboo Industries Association of India (BIAI) said that despite investment of crores of rupees over the past decade, the sector showed no signs of any visible development on the ground.
BIAI said that both the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and the National Mission on Bamboo Application (NMBA) failed to serve their purpose, and demanded an inquiry into the �objectives, working, pragmatic achievements and the like of then NMBA and NBM and fix responsibility for the very poor performance of both the missions that hindered development of this vital sector.�
Questioning the logic of forming a new body titled North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) which it said was presentation of old wine in a new bottle, BIAI said that the NMBA, suddenly after a decade of listless operation, has been absorbed into the NECTAR.
�But unless the failures of the two missions are inquired into and the lacunae removed, the new body would merely amount to a cover-up of the ineffectiveness and failure of NMBA,� BIAI president Rajib Goswami and general secretary DK Chetia said in a memorandum to the Prime Minister.
Pointing out that there was no dearth of scientific institutions in the North-east with knowledge, expertise and experienced personnel, BIAI said that engaging a suitable institution from the region under the DST would have been the appropriate option rather than creating a new institution from the scratch, that too with manpower from a defunct and ineffective body with a poor track record.
�Unavailability of bamboo poles for the industry has been a persisting hindrance though, on official records, thousands of hectares have been planted in both forest and non-forest land. Besides, one also fails to see any new technology developed by the missions even though that has been one of its mandates,� BIAI said, adding that with huge public funds being made available under bamboo missions, it was imperative on the part of the Centre to ensure that the money was utilized in a transparent manner besides serving the avowed objectives of the missions.
