Assam Government lays thrust on wood-based industries, green economy
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: With a view to promoting the green economy and wood-based industry in the state, the State Government will plant one crore saplings of commercial trees on September 17 this year.
Launching the portal and mobile App under the Amrit Brikhya Andolan and Wood-Based Industry portal here today, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “By encouraging commercial tree plantation in the state, we want to boost the economy of the farmers. This plantation drive will help revive the dying wood-based industry in the state. This will help the growth of mini and micro wood-based industries in the state without any pressure on the forest. If the farmers plant commercial trees at the edges of their farmlands instead of ridges, they will get an extra buck. The Forest Department has eased the process for the felling of such fully-grown commercial trees. I will also advise the State PWD to plant commercial plants instead of boundary walls around their various government buildings.”
The Chief Minister said, “This year our target is to plant one crore saplings of commercial trees. The next year, our target will be three crore and five crore the year after that. Every individual planting a commercial tree will have to upload the planted sapling to the mobile App launched today. Each person planting a sapling will get Rs. 100 through DBT. After three years, the individual will get Rs. 200 if the sapling survives. The 40 lakh members of self-help groups in the state will lead the plantation drive this year. ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, tea garden workers, police personnel, educational institutions, NGOs, and individuals can also take part in the drive.”
On wood-based industries, the Chief Minister said, “With the launch of this web portal today, we will streamline the functioning of the wood-based industries in Assam to a greater extent, and this investor-friendly business climate in the state is expected to attract big-ticket investment in the state in the form of the establishment of 100 percent export-oriented integrated furniture making units and create significant employment directly and indirectly. The Supreme Court’s ban on tree felling in the Northeast in 1996 has led to the closure of many plywood industries, saw mills, and wood-based industries in the state. Taking that in view, the State government has eased the rules meant for the revival of the wood-based industries in the state. This will pave the way for taking up wood-based industries as cottage industries in rural areas.”
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