NEW DELHI /Agartala, August 15 (TIWN):North East MPs Forum has unanimously resolved to request Govt. of India to constitute a Bamboo Board in line of Tea, Coffee, Spices, Rubber, Silk and other Commodity Boards under the Ministry of Commerce. More than 60% of India\'s total bamboo resources naturally grows in North East. Now a day’s bamboo is considered not only poor men\'s timber but as an important raw materials for industrial use. China\'s stake is more than 80% of total 1,000 billion dollar economy in the world. Whereas India\'s share is less than 4%, though resource wise India and China is equal. Bamboo based industry can generate couple of lakhs employment both as cultivator in the forest land and workers in the industry. Scientific use of bamboo can change the face of North East, more over it is eco-friendly.

In India bamboo mostly grows in forest land but subject is partly dealt by the Ministry of Agriculture and partly by the Ministry of Science & Technology, so nothing good is happening. More funny or contrary, while India has constituted Tobacco Board, which is injurious to health, but not convinced yet to constitute Bamboo Board. Both PMO and Ministry of Commerce & Industries has turned down my proposals, twice in last 15 months. North East MPs Forum has agreed to pursue the matter collectively according to MP Jitendra Choudhury.