Nitin Gadkari Hails Bamboo as 'White Coal' for Sustainable Development
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday emphasized the transformative potential of bamboo, labeling it as "white coal" during his address at the inauguration of the Rashtriya Bans Utsav at AIIMS-Nagpur. He highlighted bamboo's role as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and economically empowering resource, urging stakeholders to expand its applications across various sectors.
Pushing for Mass Adoption in Energy and Industry
Gadkari made a strong push for the widespread use of bamboo as an eco-friendly material, sharing that he had encouraged his son to utilize bamboo as fuel in a power plant instead of coal. To further promote bamboo adoption, he ensured a mandate requiring thermal power plants to use 20% eco-friendly biomass, including bamboo. He pointed to China as a model, where the bamboo sector provides employment to 50 lakh people, underscoring its potential for job creation in India.
Addressing Cost Competitiveness and Logistics
However, the minister acknowledged the need to reduce bamboo costs to maintain competitiveness with traditional fuels like coal. He noted that coal has a calorific value of 4,000 and costs Rs 4,000 per tonne, and bamboo rates must align with this. To achieve this, plans include harvesting bamboo from wastelands where it is not needed, cutting it into 8mm pieces, and transporting it via trucks. Gadkari suggested that electric trucks could significantly reduce transport costs, potentially lowering fuel expenses by more than ten times compared to diesel-operated vehicles.
Political and Production Strategies
Gadkari revealed that he had previously advised Congress leader Ashok Chavan, during his tenure as industries minister, to prioritize bamboo products. He emphasized that maximizing production is key to lowering costs and enhancing accessibility. This approach aims to integrate bamboo into mainstream industries, fostering rural entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Catalyst Foundation's Training Initiatives
In related efforts, the Catalyst Foundation, a Nagpur-based organization, will conduct a series of training and awareness programs on bamboo use from February 22 to 27. Ashish Kaswa, the co-founder, explained that these workshops are part of the Rashtriya Bans Utsav, culminating on February 27, which is observed as National Bamboo Day. This date was declared by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the foundation aims to propagate the message of bamboo's benefits through these initiatives.
