Projects of Bamboo Development Agency:
Pilot project of Bamboo board industry under NLPF at Sairang:

Project expected to generate 100 direct employment utilizing 6 truck trips of bamboo every day.  
Intended products are bamboo floor board - natural and carbonated, pattern design bamboo floor board, bamboo-teak doors and shutters, balusters, furnitures-tables & seats of various designs and uses, wall paneling and related items.    

Progress and achievements: 

• Approach road, water supply, factory building and office building etc. completed.

• This is the only one amongst NLCPR projects in Mizoram to earn the praise of Mr. A.Sinha, Secretary, DONER, GOI during their recent visit to Mizoram.

• The Agency is possession of all required fund for the project with Rs 3.00 crore released by DONER, Govt. of India during February 2003, which is mostly for import of machines.

• Proposed machine supplier m/s Boarke Machine Co., Taiwan expressed their willingness to join as Joint Venture partner. MOU prepared and will be executed very soon.  

Bamboo board industry under JV Entity:

Identifications:

1. JV partner  -          Venus Bamboo Co., W.Bengal.
2. Contribution by Company -          Rs 155.00 lakhs
3. Contribution of BDA        -          Rs  103.00 lakhs.
4. Infrastructure worth Rs 73.50 lakhs completed by BDA and will be leased to the JV entity on rent.
5. The Unit will be Export Oriented Unit and located at Sairang
6. Intended products same as above.
7. Target date for commission is  October 2003.

Progress and achievements:

• Permission obtained from Ministry of Commerce

• JV Agreement executed on 14.3.03.

• Techno-economic feasibility study, restructuring plan completed and vetted by concerned authority.

• Central Bank of India, funding agency of M/s Venus Bamboo Co. issued approval in principle, final approval expected within few days.

• Rs 25.00 lakhs for working capital margin, which is the contribution of the BDA will be arranged from own fund or Financial Institution.

• The Unit is estimated to have profit of around Rs 100.00 lakhs per annum which will be proportionally shared between  BDA and Venus Co.

Construction of Demonstration Houses in Mizoram:

	Indian Plywood Industry Research & Training Institute, Bangalore has developed bamboo mat corrugated roofing sheet and bamboo construction technology. Based on this technology, IPIRTI and Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC),New Delhi will fund a project demonstration houses in Mizoram.
Sites for 7 buildings at Aizawl, Lunglei and Kolasib approved. Ministry of Urban Development, GOI sanctioned Rs 44.00 lakhs to BMTPC (Nodal agency) for the project. The project is scheduled to be completed during current calendar year.

Sites approved:

Approved sites for construction of demonstration houses:

i)           Quarters at Bamboo Industries Complex, Sairang, Aizawl District – 2 nos.

ii)          OPD near TB Hospital, Zemabawk, Aizawl.

iii)         Picnic shed at YMA Park, Tlangnuam, Aizawl.

iv)         Tourist Cottage at Zotlang, Lunglei.

v)          Quarter at District near Thingdawl, Kolasib.

vi)          Library building at DC Complex, Kolasib

ASIDE Scheme:

A new Scheme called “”Assistance to State for Infrastructure Development for Export & Allied Activities” has been launched by Ministry of Commerce in which the erstwhile CIB Scheme (under Trade & Commerce) and EPIP Scheme (under Industry Deptt) will merge.

Bamboo Development Agency is the nodal agency for this ASIDE Scheme and Rs 1.00 crore has been released to BDA by Ministry of Commerce, GOI. Under the ASIDE, State Level Export Promotion Committee (SLEPC) chaired by Chief Secretary will decide projects to be taken up under the Scheme. 

Bamboo Concrete Technology:

Technology, adapted technology, IPIRT. The Project Manager (Bamboo) of the Department, has a new concept of Bamboo Concrete Technology from his experience in conventional construction systems, Apatani bamboo house, Riang bamboo house, traditional Mizo bamboo house, Khasi bamboo house, Latin AmericanI technology etc, which is being developed.
	The technology is based on full utilisation of special positive characteristic of bamboo - tensile strength application to reduce the problems of joints and nailing in bamboo. The main material is bamboo in round form, woven opened out bamboo (locally very popular as 'dap'), cement plaster and hardwares etc.

The construction system significantly reduces quantity of steel and timber and costly and hazardous building materials c.g.i sheets, asbestos sheets, bricks etc., largescale use of which has severe environment impact. Experimental building for building on flat site has been constructed at Sairang, Mizoram, the result of which is quite satisfactory in terms of architecture, structure and economy.

New Projects in the pipeline:

Bamboo Pebble Mat industries:

Project Proposal “Setting up of a bamboo pebble mat production unit for economic upliftment of identified rural cluster in Mizoram" submitted to Ministry of Rural Development for funding.

Under the Project one mother unit using imported machinery and 9 rural units using machinery to be manufactured in India will be established in addition with training, sample production and sales promotion.

Bamboo shoot preservation:

Bamboo shoot and other food items can be preserved for some months using vacuum sealing technology. The Agency is experimenting on this technology using vacuum sealing machine. The fund is provided by the Agency from its own accounts. The products is expected to be in local market within few months.