Bamboo artisans weave dreams in Himachal-Minister

A career in bamboo craft would help several artisans realise their dreams in the hill state  after the state govt decided to set up the first  bamboo village in Una District  aiming  to  improve  living conditions in remote areas  by making use of the natural resources .
The bamboo village will come up in  village Boul in Una District under National Bamboo Mission  with initial cost of Rs 1.17 crore  in 24 kanal  land with technical assistance from Pune based ” Bamboo India “which would  transform  bamboo reeds into a variety of product by  promoting   eco-friendly industry taking root in hill state .
The project aims to   to boost the livelihood  of  unemployed  rural youths by providing  professional training in the  art in  making hand-fans, furniture, dustbins, tea mugs, wall hangings,   show pieces, flower pots, etc by using locally available bamboo which will  help increase their income said Virender Kanwar Agriculture Minister 
The state govt will organize free  training camps in bamboo based handicraft  to around 500 villagers  youths   to enable the local artisans to  adapt their creativity as per the demands of the market  and get better prices for their products.
The state govt will set up a unit for manufacturing strong, affordable and fancy golden coloured  bamboo artifacts/furniture  in collaboration with some agencies with a total cost of around 22 lakhs to   generate  employment and boosting rural economy said Virender Kanwar Agriculture Minister 
The Govt  has shortlisted a hybrid species of   oxygen releasing Bamboo  trees  named   “ Beema Bamboo”  to be planted in a scientific method to get the maximum benefit of oxygen.
An ‘Oxygen park’ with beema bamboo will be  established with estimated cost of around 40 lakhs at  village Boul in which 600 beema bamboo seedlings will be  planted .
The Govt  has approached Pune based   company for technical assistance   which has rich experience and already engaged in setting up Oxygen Parks in many parts of India said Virender Kanwar Agriculture Minister 
The state govt has planned a massive bamboo plantation to get raw material round the year. Local farmers will be given bamboo seeds for free, while bamboo will be planted on open and barren lands under the National Bamboo Mission .
The state govt will set up   Bamboo Natural Park in the village  In an attempt to conserve, protect and promote Bamboo plantation in the state .
Bamboo Natural Park  would showcase the usual and exotic species of Bamboo that are still present in different parts of the state . The bamboo park would aim to educate people about the usage of bamboo and would impart knowledge about the variety of Bamboo present in hilly regions .
 The  bamboo village  will act as an institution by introducing the latest technologies in bamboo processing, skill building, employment generation and changing the economic and industrial scenario of the entire state.
Every fully grown bamboo tree generates over 300 kilograms of oxygen every year, and it is just sufficient for one person for a whole year. Further, it has the capacity to absorb 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide per acre every year.
One matured Beema Bamboo after four years absorbs more than 400 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually from the surrounding areas.
 The special bamboo clone is developed by a conventional breeding method that does not involve genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Beema Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth, which grows one and half feet a day under tropical conditions and acts as a best carbon sink for CO2 emission said Virender Kanwar Agriculture Minister .