Precious Plant

Jamshedpur, Oct. 20: The industries department will work with the forest department to utilise bamboo resources to the hilt, in a bid to save the weavers in Manusmudia village in East Singhbhum district from penury.

The departments will soon sign an MoU to this effect. Two acres of non-forest government land would be dedicated for a common facility, a chemical treatment plant and splitting unit. The total cost of the project — first of its kind in eastern India — will be around Rs 1 crore.

“The village is ideal for bamboo production and almost all household there are engaged in products made from bamboo. The project, which the government started, will help the weavers fight poverty to some extent. However, the industries department at present has stepped in to play a much bigger role to help the villagers,” said A.T. Mishra, the Dhalbhum divisional forest officer.

The MoU will be signed on October 21 in Manusmudia village. Though the forest department has already got a similar but smaller facility, this is the first time that the industries department has shown interest in ensuring 100 per cent utilisation of bamboo resources. The ongoing project was launched under World Food Programme in 2007.

The industries department will set up infrastructure with machines that will require investment of about Rs 18 lakh.

Most importantly, the project will have a chemical treatment plant, which will guarantee durability of bamboo products for 25 years. “Unlike earlier efforts, work will be much more organised and we will have sections which will use a specific amount of bamboo for furniture making, handicrafts, incense sticks splits among other things. The rest of the bamboo will be converted into charcoal, ensuring optimal utilisation,” said Dhirendra Kumar, special secretary, handlooms and handicrafts, industries department.

The weavers who for generations have made mats and similar products, will be able to work with ease with the help of technology.

“We have intervened mainly to do away with middlemen. The introduction of better infrastructure will help more families. We have got plenty of raw material with about 500 acres of public and private land under bamboo cultivation,” said Mishra.