A commodity board for bamboo: Letters to THE EDITOR

A commodity board for bamboo

India's bamboo exports in 2016-17 was only USD 0.05 million with Germany being the major importer of Indian Bamboo. In recent years recognition of bamboo as a grass, relaxation of norms for export of bamboo and re-structuring of national mission on bamboo are some encouraging steps to boost exports. Since then massive bamboo plantation drives are being taken up in different states across the country, and recently a 'bamboo conclave' was organized.

The North Eastern Region of India account for more than fifty per cent of the species of Bamboo reported from India and is a storehouse of more than sixty-six per cent of India's bamboo. Around forty-two naturally growing species of bamboo are recorded in Assam. Bamboo is a raw material of great versatility and it forms an integral part of the lifestyle and rural economy. The inherent strength of the North-East region as a whole with regards to bamboo and bamboo-based products can therefore be best addressed by the creation of a commodity board dedicated to bamboo. Creation of a commodity board with its headquarters in Assam will not only help in bringing the diverse activities pertaining to conservation, sustainable cultivation and product generation from bamboo under a single umbrella but will also lead to sustained aggressive promotion of bamboo-based products for domestic and international markets.

Dr Ranjan K.Bhagobaty,

Duliajan

Production of diesel cars

Maruti-Suzuki, the biggest car-manufacturer in India, has taken a welcome decision to stop production of diesel cars in India from April 1, 2020. With the procurement price of both petrol and diesel being almost the same, diesel was priced cheaper because it is used in commercial vehicles. Production of diesel-driven cars is gross misuse of having price of diesel less than that of petrol. There must be a complete ban on the production of diesel cars.

Also since big cars occupy more space in road and parking, their production should be discouraged also because these cars are purchased and used by the rich. GST, road-tax, insurance and other levies on cars with ex-showroom price, say above Rs ten lakh, should be doubled. There should be a complete ban on loans on costlier cars. Only economical cars should be purchased by central and state governments and their public sector undertakings, including judges of higher courts, ministers and top bureaucrats, except for requirement of use by foreign dignitaries visiting India, that too, on permission from the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

Madhu Agrawal,

1775 Kucha Lattushah,

Dariba, Chandni Chowk,

Delhi-110006.