Ordinance will give new life to Bamboo Mission

The govt is also trying to ease the guidelines on felling and transit of several other varieties trees grown on non-forest or private land

The Centre’s issuing of an ordinance last month to change the forest laws to exempt bamboo grown in non-forest or private land from transit and felling permits would give a needed impetus to the decade-old National Bamboo Mission (since renamed National Agro-forestry and Bamboo Mission).

It could also open the door for liberalising the felling and transit regime for other tree varieties grown on non-forest or private land.

Forest rights activists say the step is inadequate, since it won’t benefit forest dwellers. However, it has given the wood and paper industry some reason for optimism. 

“This will give comfort to the pulp and