Guwahati, Nov. 8: Experts have underscored the need for chalking out a financial package for closed plywood mills. Using bamboo as raw material, these mills can be reopened.

Experts involved with the bamboo and plywood sector met in Guwahati recently to devise an action plan for reviving plywood mills with the help of bamboo. Bamboo can be converted into value-added items such as bamboo plywood.

One of them said in accordance with the new industrial policy for the Northeast, plywood mills that have been shut down would have to use bamboo as the main raw material. He argued for their recognition as new units, which should be allowed to enjoy all the benefits of the industrial policy.

The meet was attended by officials of the Planning Commission, the North Eastern Council (NEC), forest and industry departments of the various states, members of the Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industries (FIPPI), Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute (IPIRTI) and other groups.

Former NEC secretary P.L. Thanga, who attended the meet, suggested that a task force be constituted to conduct an in-depth study and arrive at a logical revival package to reopen closed units.

The task force, comprising representatives from the NEC, the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, FIPPI and IPIRTI, will prepare a report in the form of an ?attractive revival package?. This would clearly indicate the roles to be played by the Centre, state governments, the NEC and entrepreneurs.

?Any financial assistance from the Centre and state governments would have to be clearly mentioned along with sufficient justification,? the action plan stated.

The task force will conduct an in-depth study on probable products that could be manufactured using bamboo and wood composites.

The Supreme Court?s ban on felling led to closure of plywood industries in the region in December 1996.

Since then, massive infrastructure in the form of plywood manufacturing machinery and equipment has been lying idle, leaving thousands of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers jobless.

The action plan stated that a study would have to be conducted on the data gathered by forest working plans and the Forest Survey of India.

This would help identify the actual stock of bamboo in each division and its rate of growth, which in turn would help plan the revival of mills that have been shut down.