Borjhar, June 22: Assam industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary inaugurated the Bamboo Technology Park in Kamrup district today.

The park has been set up at a cost of Rs 62.28 crore at the initiative of the industries and commerce department with help from the Centre's department of industrial policy and promotion. It has been built on 60 bighas at the industrial growth centre at Chaygaon, 60km from Guwahati. It has road, drainage, electricity and water amenities.

"Assam is the highest bamboo-producing state but we are yet to use it commercially up to the optimum level. The park is the first step of the government towards harnessing the potential of bamboo," Patowary said.

"It is the government's duty to establish industries. However, it is the people's duty to protect and support those as new industries lead to employment generation," Patowary said, urging the people to create a conducive environment for industries in Assam.

The park will provide infrastructure facilities to bamboo entrepreneurs against payment of user charge. It will act as an institution by launching the latest technologies in bamboo processing, skill building, employment generation, thus changing the economic and industrial scenario of the state, he added.

Chief secretary V.K. Pipersenia said the park will be a common facility centre for bamboo processing and will give local entrepreneurs a competitive edge in the global market. Commissioner of industries and commerce K.K. Dwivedi hoped the park will help entrepreneurs manufacture bamboo products at a nominal charge. The Northeast has two-thirds of the country's reserves spread out in natural habitat as well as in plantations. The total area under bamboo cultivation is around 9.6 million hectares.

The important species of bamboo of economic value in Assam are Bholuka Baah (bambusa balcooa), Jati Baah (Bambusa tulda), Muruli Baah (Melocanna bambusoides).