UT heading towards industrial revolution: LG
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 12: Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today exuded confidence that with signing of MoU between North Eastern Region and J&K Government for launching of mega Bamboo project in the UT, J&K will emerge as development module for rest of India, while Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha asserted that with the announcement of the new industrial policy an industrial revolution will come in the UT and it will become crown of India in real sense.
Both Dr Jitendra Singh and Manoj Sinha were speaking at a function organised in connection with signing of historical MoU between the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Union Territory Government of Jammu & Kashmir for launching first-of-its-kind mega Bamboo Project in this part of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh said he is confident that after this programme undertaken on the directions of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and guidance of LG Manoj Sinha, J&K will emerge as development role model of India.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, this day will go down as a turning point because a new initiation is being made with the realisation that Jammu & Kashmir’s huge Bamboo reserves, which have remained unutilised, can be used to boost the economy of the region.
Dr Jitendra Singh said as the world reels out of the COVID effect, the entire focus will be to discover the new and unexplored potentials and assets for revival and resurgence. And one of these is Bamboo, its huge resources and technical know-how, that the North East can offer to the rest of India including Jammu & Kashmir.
Giving full credit to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for placing North East on the top priority, Dr Jitendra Singh said before 2014 North East was in the news for insurgency, terrorism, protracted road blockades, floods, bad roads and poor connectivity. In contrast today, he said, within six years, North East has emerged as a development model which is being cited as an example in every part of India.
If Northeast could come out with this magical transformation within six years, said Dr Jitendra Singh, there is no reason why Jammu & Kashmir cannot emerge as a new Development Model, particularly because the conditions in Jammu & Kashmir are not so difficult and restrictive as these were in the North East when this Government came to power in 2014.
He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has instructed them to give the same focus and attention to Jammu & Kashmir which was given to North East in the earlier years and hoped that with the new Constitutional arrangement and the Lieutenant Governor regime in place, it would be possible to translate PM Modi’s vision into reality in Jammu & Kashmir.
It was an irony, said Dr Jitendra Singh, that even though Bamboo “Agarbati” is used in every Indian household, the entire Agarbati requirement was being imported from other countries. With the setting up of a Bamboo Agarbati Unit in the Jammu region, this will cater to the requirement across the country. The other two Bamboo clusters planned to be set up in the Jammu region will be devoted to the making of baskets which is a craft traditionally practised in this region also and the third cluster would be devoted to the production of Charcoal, he added.
The cost of the project is initially estimated to be about Rs.125 crore and envisages to have in course of time 12 Common Facility Centers spread over different locations in districts, including Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Samba. The Bamboo Technology Centre cum Bamboo Technology Park is planned for Bari Brahmana in district Samba.
Dr Jitendra Singh exuded confidence that the setting up of three Bamboo clusters and a Bamboo Technology Centre over here will open new avenues of livelihood and self employment. He said, to facilitate this, the Modi Government has amended the 100 year old “Indian Forest Act” of the British Raj to exempt home-grown Bamboo from it and also considerably raised the Import Duty on Bamboo in order to promote domestic Bamboo products. This, he said, gives Jammu & Kashmir an opportunity to become one of the major Bamboo production zone catering to whole of India.
With the new Industrial Policy having been announced for Jammu & Kashmir by Prime Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Bamboo initiative will further augment generation of revenue and livelihood opportunities. He complimented Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha for having facilitated availability of land for setting up Bamboo Clusters by the Ministry of North Eastern Region.
Maintaining that with announcement of Rs 22,600 crore incentive for industry, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said there would be a revolution in economy of J&K. A new ray of hope has dawned on J&K with the efforts of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. “The people of J&K see a new change is coming in the UT and the dark clouds which hovered over the skies over decades are gone once for all now”, he added.
“The people also see towards PM with a hope and the change is now visible on ground with efforts of Narendra Modi”, he said, adding a new kind of economic revolution is taking place in the UT.
Manoj Sinha said the people will reap fruit of this MoU in coming time and promoting Bamboo cultivation in the UT will change fate of farmers and artisans. “This MoU will act as a milestone in the development of the UT”. He urged the Industrial Department to take the appropriate steps in this regard as promoting the Bamboo cultivation and trade is our national duty.
The LG said if 10,000 families are linked to Bamboo cultivation and trade, their fate will definitely be changed as people will get employment. The products made from Bamboo are used in different ways. He said the Bamboo was also in the category of trees but with the amendment in Forest Act a great change took place in the country and the farmers now not only cultivate Bamboo as tree but for development also.
While highlighting the advantages and benefits of Bamboo cultivation, the LG said it grows in less time and needs less water for cultivation. He said “it is our duty that we should take the National Bamboo Mission forward.”
Manoj Sinha said that an Action plan will be framed in this regard and “With our positive efforts we will definitely achieve our goal”. He complimented Dr Jitendra Singh for his efforts in brining NE and J&K closer in Bamboo cultivation and said a new kind of revolution will take place in J&K where an Assam type Bamboo Park will be established.
The LG said Maharashtra has made a revolution in Bamboo cultivation and industry as such beautiful products have been made by the State which eliminated the plastic from the market. He exuded confidence that J&K can also do the same. He also stressed on use of modern technology in making products from Bamboo and boosting this industry.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Advisor to Governor, Bashir Khan, Dr Inderjit Singh, Secretary DONER, Chief Secretary J&K BVR Subrahmanyam, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce J&K, M K Dwivedi. M P Jugal Kishore Sharma was also present in function.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
