Bamboo plantation comes to zero level by sale of bamboo shoots

Sale of bamboo shoot is going on at full swing all over the state while the State Government has taken initiative to extend bamboo cultivation. Forest department has rule to deposit tariff for bamboo carrying and selling. But there is no provision of fine on sale of bamboo shoot. As a result lakhs of bamboo shoots are being sold all over the state everyday and bamboo plantations are being destroyed within one year of plantation.

In reality bamboo plantation came down into zero level all over the state including remote areas of Dhalai district while hectares of bamboo plantation prevailing here in pen and paper. Meanwhile, selling of bamboo shoots started in large amount at the markets of rural and urban areas.

Mainly the shoots are sold from Baishakh to Bhadra month according to Bengali calendar.

A bunch of 20 bamboo shoots are being sold at Rs.20, Rs.20, Rs.15. Although price of a Muli bamboo is Rs 4 to 5 at Ambassa and about Rs 30 in Agartala, price of a Rupai is Rs 100 to 120 and price of Mittinga is Rs. 200 to Rs. 250.

The situation reached in such a stage that administration should take initiative to save the bamboo plantations. Conscious people are thinking that the administration should start awareness programme on bad effect of plucking bamboo shoots at Panchayat to Village Committee level, at block and district level.

At present number of natural trees are reducing day by day in the forests. Meanwhile different Plantations are being created for implementation of MNREGA and other Government projects for the tribal people who got land under Right to Forest Act. The condition of bamboo plantation is most serious among all plantations. About 20,000 bamboo shoots are being sold everyday at Ambassa, Dalubari, Kulai, Shikaribari and Jawharnagar at both sides of National Highway.