– Perspectives of Dignitaries at ‘Bamboo Discovery through Technology’ on World Bamboo Day
Nagpur :- Vidarbha boasts abundant forests. However, the urban concrete sprawl is on the rise. To safeguard the environment and preserve our forests, bamboo must be given its rightful place. While bamboo materials are being prepared, without market access, the industry will not flourish. Speakers expressed the view that to rejuvenate bamboo, educational programs focused on bamboo are imperative in institutes of education, architecture, and technology.
The Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board and the Bamboo Society of India, Maharashtra Chapter, in collaboration with the Bamboo Development and Conservation Committee of Vidarbha Pradesh, organized the seminar on “Exploring Bamboo Through Technological Interventions” on Monday, September 18, 2023, at Mimonsa, Chittenvis Centre, Civil Lines, Nagpur, on the occasion of World Bamboo Day.
The program was inaugurated by Shailesh Tembhurnikar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and Prof. Abhay Purohit, President of the Council of Architecture (COA) India, New Delhi. M. Srinivasa Rao, Managing Director of the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board, and Architect Sunil Joshi, the convener of the Bamboo Development and Conservation Committee, were also present.
The program commenced with an introduction by Ajay Patil, Chairman of the Bamboo Development and Promotion Committee – Vidarbha . He mentioned their ongoing efforts in bamboo-related work over the past few years and provided insights into the organization’s progress.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Shailesh Tembhurnikar, highlighted bamboo’s significance as a versatile plant, with applications in construction, furniture, transportation, energy, and more. He emphasized the substantial bamboo production potential in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts of Vidarbha. To revitalize bamboo, promoting bamboo cultivation and developing essential production technology are vital.
Tembhurnikar also shared information about bamboo development plans announced by both state and central governments, including the Atal Bamboo Prosperity Scheme and the National Bamboo Mission. These initiatives aim to boost bamboo cultivation, introduce superior bamboo species, plant bamboo on government-owned land, support related industries, and promote bamboo product marketing.
He further discussed the need for fireproofing bamboo structures, taking lessons from the fire incident at the Cheechappalli bamboo research center in Chandrapur district. He assured support for leadership that advances bamboo’s progress and prosperity.
Prof. Abhay Purohit, President of the Council of Architecture (COA) India, New Delhi, emphasized bamboo’s sustainability as a resource. He stressed that using bamboo materials contributes to environmental protection and encourages innovative design.
M. Srinivasa Rao, Managing Director of the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board, mentioned the Maharashtra government’s efforts to promote bamboo production, including subsidies for bamboo cultivation and technology development for bamboo production.
Architect Sunil Joshi, the convener of the Bamboo Development and Conservation Committee, highlighted the potential for sustainable construction, transportation, and energy innovation using bamboo. He emphasized the need for technological development in bamboo production and urged the availability of markets for bamboo products.
The seminar covered various topics related to bamboo cultivation, production, and utilization, with a focus on developing essential technologies to rejuvenate bamboo.
Dr. Dilip Peshwa from the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, introduced the concept of the Shastri-Mistry Workshop at VNIT. Shastri refers to individuals who study bamboo-related subjects and acquire knowledge, while Mistry represents those who work with bamboo hands-on. He announced the commencement of an advanced bamboo course that offers a certificate as a degree through skill orientation for both groups.
The event was attended by former corporators Pragati Patil, Rajendra Jagtap, Uday Gadkari, Ashish Nagpurkar, Raju Deshpande, Dr. Pinak Dande, Sanjay Thackeray, Mamta Jaiswal, Sana Pandit, Swapna Nair, Priyanka Khandelwal, Shubhankar Patil, Ramesh Thackeray, Sanjay Puglia, Rahul Deshmukh, Pratap Goswami, and others. Mahesh Moka expressed his gratitude to all attendees
