Patowary opens bamboo technology park

GUWAHATI, June 22: “It’s the government’s duty to establish industries, but it’s people’s fundamental duty to protect and support those as new industries can usher in large-scale employment generation,” said State Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary while calling on the people to be ambassadors of goodwill in building a congenial industrial environment in the State.  

The minister said this while iugurating the Bamboo Technology Park at Industrial Growth Centre, Chaygaon, No. 2 Jambari, Kamrup today. The Park has been set up at the initiative of Industries and Commerce Department, Assam with help from Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India. The total project cost of the park is Rs. 62.28 crore and built on an area of 60 bighas with road, draige, electricity and water amenities. 

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said: “Assam is the highest bamboo-producing state, but we are yet to use it commercially up to the optimum level. This park is the first step of the Government towards harnessing the potential of bamboo.”

Patowary further mentioned that the Park would act as an institution by introducing the latest technologies in bamboo processing, skill building, employment generation and changing the economic and industrial scerio of the State.

AIDC Chairman Mission Ranjan Das said that bamboo could be grown with minimum effort and through bamboo processing, building material could be produced which can last longer than wood as it is termite-and-maintence-free.

Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board Chairman Dr. Kamala Kalita said that a long cherished dream was fulfilled with the setting up of the Bamboo Technology Park. He called upon the industrialists and entrepreneurs to maximize the utility of the facilities in the Park to produce quality goods.

Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia said, “The Bamboo Park will be a common facility centre for bamboo processing and will give the local entrepreneurs a competitive edge in the global market.”

Additiol Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Ravi Capoor said, “Bamboo is a fast-growing plant generating large biomass and has the potential to replace wood. Its multiple use in businesses is ever expanding, so are opportunities.”

Industries and Commerce Commissioner Dr. KK Dwivedi hoped that the Park would facilitate entrepreneurs to take up manufacture of various products from bamboo by utilizing sophisticated machineries at the Park at a very nomil charge.   Abhijit Baruah, Chairman of the Bamboo Technology Park, briefed the minister of functioning and utilities of equipment installed in the park.

The minister also visited TCPL Ltd, an ultra modern packaging material manufacturing unit, at the Industrial Growth Centre.