The generation of power from bamboo will be a reality soon if the Forest Department has its say.
Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara told reporters on Tuesday that a proposal had been submitted to the government to take up the project on a pilot basis in Kanakapur taluk.
Land in some parts of Kanakapura had become unfit for agriculture due to flow of sewerage water from Bangalore. Bamboo plantation can be taken up on such land and power can be generated by setting up gasifier plants, he said.
The minister said he had recently visited Mundargi in Gadag district where a bamboo-based gasifier plant was being set up and collected details about the project.
He said he had already appraised Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda of the proposed project and had received a positive response from him.
According to the minister, about 40 tonnes of bamboo can be grown in an acre of land. About 5 mega watt of power can be generated from about 40,000 tonnes of bamboo.
Per unit cost of power generation under this method is Rs 1.50. Bamboo can be cultivated anywhere in the State and in all seasons.
“If the government can take up bamboo cultivation on dry and barren land and set up a gasifier plants in all districts, the State will become free of power shortage problem,” he said.
He said he will soon urge the Centre to consider bamboo as a plantation crop so that those who take up bamboo cultivation can get subsidies.
Kaan forest
The Western Ghats Task Force submitted a report on the conservation action plan for Kaan forest of Shimoga district.
The task force, among others, recommended the government to come out with a clear policy on identification, recognition, demarcation, protection and management of different kinds of Kaan forests, including sacred groves, in the district.
Steps should be taken to prevent encroachment and works like fencing, cattle-proof trench formation and rising live fencing should be taken up immediately.
Protection and management of Kaan forests should be included in the annual action plan of the Forest Department, the Task Force recommended in its report.
Yogeeshwara said in many parts of Shimoga, Kaan forests come under the Revenue Department. Hence, people were misusing the forest.
The process to transfer Kaan forest land from Revenue Department to Forest Department will be initiated soon, he said.