AGARTALA, September 4 (TIWN): Timber smuggling and chopping of bamboo when rampant across Tripura, 10 hector area of Kamthana area of Radhanagar Village Panchayat under the Bishalgarh block was bought under Agor plantation.

This initiative has been taken by the Medicinal Plantation Board. Altogether 11, 110 Agor saplings have been planted in the area and for the plantation altogether Rs. 2.20 lakh have been allotted.

Besides, in the adjacent area of the Panchayat area, altogether 6.5 hectors of land were brought under bamboo garden. Altogether 8, 125 bamboo saplings were planted, spending Rs. 6 lakh.

However, 301 families of Kamthana JFMC were provided with help for the plantation of Agor and bamboo. Besides, under state project around 23.5 areas of the Bishalgarh Block area were brought under several gardens.

Altogether, 9,682 man days were generated for making bamboo garden and a total of Rs. 24.69 lakh were allotted for the gardening purpose.

Besides, bamboo garden were made over 5hector of land under the Central Forest Development Agency Plan. A total of 5, 555 bamboo saplings were planted.

While making the garden, altogether 264 man days were generated.

On one hand, where Tripura is facing a scarcity of bamboo because of large-scale flowering and resultant dying of the plants, especially the local muli species, and farmers’ preference for rubber plantation.

On the other hand, the people of the state cut the down the bamboos for the cuisine of bamboo shoot. Hundreds of bamboos are chopped down to get the bamboo shoots as there are huge demands of bamboo shoots among the citizens of the state.

However, the craze of bamboo shoots in the market is creating scarcity of bamboo in the state.