SANE Newsletter

July 2003

Editor's Note On 7th May 2002 the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) (Public Interest Litigation) filed by SANE, Kalpavriksh and BNHS issued certain directions about adopting an appropriate building technology, reducing the use of cement and concrete and progressively reducing mining of sea sand to a level about 1/3rd of the quantity extracted annually . Ironically, the Order issued by the Supreme Court is very similar to the recommendations made by Dr. Laurie Baker. Following the recent Supreme Courts Order, our Chief Secretary had invited COSTFORD to design an eco-friendly construction plan for the islands (see SANE NEWS February 2003). The report submitted by COSTFORD remains with the Administration, yet to be made public.

Good Start! Campaign against Plastics

From a convenience, plastic has today become a menace to the environment, especially in the A and N Islands whose geographical isolation has made it a dumping ground of plastic. Plastic imported into the islands remain here because transporting it back is not economically viable, while the volumes generated are too small to profitably support a recycling plants.

Many environmentalists and environmental activists have protested against this menace, which seem to be restricted to papers and records. Better late than never: the A and N Forest Department, perfectly cognizant about the harm done to the fragile eco system of these emerald islands, has imposed, restrictions on entry of plastic into the Marine National Park at Wandoor. The restrictions include a caution deposit of Rs. 100/- for carrying 1 to 3 (PET) bottles, a strict ban on poly bags, and an entry fee of Rs. 50/- per person. All visitors, whether tourist sor islander, are subject to this strict rule. No one is spared. No wonder, Islands like Jolly Buoy and Red Skin now look pristine once again.

This is a good example of how the plastic menace can be overcome. A good start indeed but it should not be restricted to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands alone. This should be a procedure for entering into any National Parks and gradually, perhaps the entire A and N Islands. Moreover, entry fees collected should be utilized for protection and preservation of the protected areas. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a paradise on earth, pure like a virgin. Lets preserve its virginity.

Lastly, we congratulate the Chief Wildlife Warden and his team for this excellent work. Port Blairians will back them up and extend their support.

 Bamboo - the Golden Grass 

The Planning Commission had constituted a National Mission on Bamboo Technology and Trade Development. Their report was published in April, 2003.The report is a well-researched one and makes an interesting reading. The recommendation if implemented will go a long way in promoting rural employment, reducing poverty, providing low- cost housing, protecting forest and biodiversity and even earning foreign exchange.

The National Missions estimates the demand for bamboo at 26.69 million tones nationally. The supply at present is only 13.47 million tones valued at Rs.12, 274.8crores. In other words, the productivity and supply needs to be doubled to meet the existing demand.

There is considerable scope of increasing the demand further by substituting wood with bamboo for manufacture of paper. Treated bamboo can be an ideal replacement of timber in housing sector. Bamboo is already in use for making ply boards and even corrugated roofing sheets. Bamboo flooring can be popularized as a timber-substitute. Bamboo is widely used for scaffolding and fencing wherever available. By ensuring wider availability, this market can grow threefold. Bamboo grids could be profitably used in road construction for stabilizing the bed.
Besides such bulk uses, bamboo furniture and handicrafts have great potential. Other innovative uses identified by the National Mission include manufacture of activated carbon and components of truck bodies and railway carriages.

Bamboo shoots are edible and are highly nutritive being rich in vitamins and minerals. The National Mission estimates the current market (in 2001) at only Rs.4.8 crores. The Mission believes at a 25% annual growth of this market is completely feasible. By 2015, the market could be as large as Rs.300 crores. There is a large international demand for this item.
A table of the present and projected market size of bamboo as compiled by the National Mission is reproduced below.

Product / Application	Current market (Rs.in crore)	Expected market (Rs.in crore)
Bamboo shoot	4.8 (2001)	300 (by 2015)
Bamboo as wood substitute	10,000 (import value)	30,000 (in next 20 years)
Bamboo ply board	1,200	3,908 (by 2015)
Bamboo flooring	200(both domestic and export)	1,950(by 2015)
Bamboo pulp	100	2,088 (by 2015)
Bamboo furniture	380	3,625(by 2015)
Building and construction material
Scaffolding	-	861 (by 2015)
Housing	-	1,163 (2015)
Roads	-	274
Bamboo grids	-	1,000 (by 2015)
Tiny and cottage industry	394	600 (by 2004)
Total	12,274.8	45,409

An Overview

Decades ago, we settlers knew the danger of earthquake. Our constructions were based accordingly. As time passed by, with the introduction of RCC construction, a new trend set in. Owning a house was ones desire but owning a pakka (cemented) house became a dream. Today this dream has resulted in a great change; from emerald islands to a concrete jungle, as in many parts of our main land. Shortage of water, destruction of nature, and change in climate are few examples, which are a result of our dream. It is high time we rethink what we are up to. It is like sitting on a time bomb, that may explode any time and the result...?

Traditional houses do not seem to be of our standard, this is another school of thought. Our preferences have been limiting us to RCC structures, despite the fact that we are in a highly earthquake prone area. Even the Administration, "the policy maker", orders for RCC construction and is continuing to do so.

The life of an RCC structure in the islands ranges from 10-15 years (due to the sand used for construction) while the matured treated timber construction has been recorded to have lasted for 40 - 50 years. Some even more. Restriction on timber and the recent ban on felling naturally grown trees is perceived by some to be a reason for continuing RCC construction, for those who want it. But the Supreme Court Order is for restricting the deforestation in the islands. Timber can be availed for homesteads from Govt. organizations. Proper management of forest by regeneration, afforestation and plantation could be the way.

Echoing Lord Keynes, it may be said that in the Andamans we always do the rational thing - but only after exhausting all other avenues.

The Islands' Scenario

A recent Bengali publication "Shiharito Dweep" (The Trembling Island) by Major (Dr.) AK Chakraborty describes the events of a series of earthquakes experienced in the Great Nicobar Island in 1982. Dr. Chakraborty was a member of the first relief team that was sent from Port Blair by INS Shardul immediately following a BBC report of a massive earthquake that was perceived to be cataclysmic. It was feared that the island might sink killing thousands of residents.

While the earthquakes were massive, badly damaging the Breakwater and the Jetty, the roads and several government buildings, Dr. Chakraborty says that the settlers' houses remained untouched. The settlers were panicked and feared the worst. But there was not a single casualty. Dr. Chakraborty attributes this miracle to the building technology adopted by the settlers. The buildings were made of wood, cane and bamboo mostly. Dr. Chakraborty also says that the Nicobaris and the Shompens were totally unmoved by the series of earthquakes. Their stilted houses were intact. They were not afraid at all. Life, for them, went on as always.

The experience of a recent Diglipur earthquake was the same. While the concrete structures were badly affected, the wood-bamboo-cane structures remained untouched.

A team of experts sent by the Governmement of India to Great Nicobar, Dr. Chakraborty says, made the same observations and recommended the use of wood-bamboo structures, preferably stilted ones in the Great Nicobar Islands.

The Supreme Court of India, in a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) (Public Interest Litigation) moved by SANE, Kalpavriksh and BNHS ordered, among other things, adoption of construction technology using locally available raw materials like wood bamboo and cane including "Assam type construction" in place of cement concrete.

Prior to 1970s, this was the medium of choice for buildings in the islands. The switch over to cement concrete happened through state-patronage at the initiative of contractors and builders. Soon the builder-contractors acquired great political influence and then there was no turning back. The proliferation of cement-concrete today claims more than a third of the territorial budget.

To make a transition to traditional building materials, treatment of timber etc. to enhance its service-life is essential. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had directed the Administration to create adequate facilities for treatment of timber, bamboo and cane so that all such material can be treated before incorporation in buildings. Even fifteen months after the time limit prescribed by the Supreme Court, very little has been achieved on the ground.

The deep mark left on the psyche of the Andamanians imprinted during the colonial past is still very much alive. Even during the five decades of Independence, this could not be erased, but has actually become deeper in certain ways. So much so, that Madhusree Mukherjee, an independent researcher and a former editor of the "Scientific American" has, in her book "The Land of The Naked People", commented on it. She says that 1947, when the Indian Union, a former British Colony, received Independence, it acquired a colony of its own in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Where else in India will you find rural folk stepping out of the road to salute a White Ambassador (earlier, it was a Jeep), even if only a rat occupied the passenger seat? Rajendar Puri had once written:

It is really funny
That we spend money
For dogs and cats
To safeguard rats

There is a fear-psychosis among the people that inhibits expression of different opinions, specially if such opinions are critical of the powers that be. There is a tendency to blindly follow the officials and to tow the official line. Unless there is awareness that we live in a democracy; we have rule of law in the country and that even the islands must have that; unless we usher in an era of transparency, the development aspirations of the people will not be satisfied. Remember Nani Palkivala's statement, "we know what is right but we do what is wrong." Our officials are so fond of citing the Delhi model, when convenient. But Delhi has a Right to Information Act. Why don't we have one?

"Order means predictability, predictability means predetermination, and that means compulsion, and compulsion means non-freedom. So, the only way a body politic can be free is to be disordered." Gregory Benford

Although there are many species of bamboo in our forests we do not have thick-walled bamboos suitable for structural use in our forest. Perhaps that is why thick-walled bamboos of different species were brought in and planted many many times during the last century. During the last decade, the Forest Department had also started propagation of some such species in the nurseries run by the Silviculture and Social Forestry Divisions.

Thick-walled bamboo in the Port Blair market today come either from the mainland or from the revenue land of farmers. Although such bamboos do not occur in our forest, the farmers are required to obtain a Transit Pass from the Forest Department, which acts as a strong disincentive for bamboo growers. We have studied a typical case in which we found that a farmer from Tirur had to apply to the DFO, South Andamans at Wimberlygunj for such a TP. Although the official charge for a TP is only Rp. 1, the actual cost to the farmer went up to several hundreds including the costs of several visits to the DFO Office. The recommendation of the Planning Commission, however, state that bamboo should be recognized as a plantation and horticultural crop without any restriction on its movement and felling for bon afide commercial use. It would be better if the Forest Department started implementing the recommendation of the Planning Commission. The sooner, the better it would be.

Changes in the roofing material from locally available leaves to imported GI, Aluminum or AC sheets reduce the comfort inside rooms. AC sheets, which are banned in all developed countries for health reasons, are extensively used in the islands for roofing and false ceiling. This may cause lung cancer in people working or living under asbestos sheets.

Concrete buildings are built of costly, energy-intensive material and have no regard for site, topography, climate, culture or religion, occupants or way of local life of the occupants. Such buildings become an eyesore, especially when viewed from distance.

Proper treatment of timber and other raw materials like bamboo and cane could increase the life of the building.

Even drains and retaining walls today are concrete, causing a huge drain of public money.

Tribal construction, especially the Nicobarese construction, and a few houses in the villages in North and Middle Andaman are ideal for the topography of these islands. Light structures with good craftsmanship can provide a better living place for the islanders. The Administration, instead of erecting massive concrete structures, should go for eco-friendly construction, to set an example for others. Different models of eco-friendly houses should be made available to give an option to the settlers. It should be location-specific, considering the climatic conditions of the islands rather than adopting types found elsewhere.

Bamboo - the Plant

Bamboo is a tree- like, woody grass with some 1,250 species in 75 genera with sizes ranging from miniature to giant clums over 60 meter. Its the world's strongest and fastest-growing woody plant capable of providing ecological economic and livelihood security to the people. India has the largest bamboo genetic resources in 136 species, including 11 exotic species, out of which 58 species belonging to 10 genera are found in the North Eastern Region. Bamboo grows abundantly all over India except the Kashmir valley, and tolerates diverse soil and rainfall to over 6,350 mm and drought. Most bamboos are found on sandy loam to loamy clay soil. No bamboo is reported on saline soils. Sizable bamboo plantationa are found on homestead land, villages and common and farm lands.

There are five species of bamboos found in the islands but all of them are hollow and thin-walled. In addition to these, species of Dinochloa and Schizostachyum are reported from Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They are:
1) Bambusa atra Lindl. - a tufted reed-like bamboo, 2-4 cm in diameter and grows in clums up to 8 m tall. It is a native of the Moluccas, New Guinea and Tenasserim costs and also occurs on Rutland Island in the Andamans. It is cultivated at the Indian Botanical Gardens, Calcutta.
2) Dinochloa andamanica Kurz - an evergreen, lofty climbing bamboo with lumps 90 m long. This species is endemic to Andaman islands.
3) Scizostachyum flavescens Kurz, Majumdar (Cephalostachyum falvescens Kurz) - an evergreen tufted, semi-arborescent bamboo. 2.5-3.8 cm in diameter, clums 3-6 m tall. It is found in the Andaman Islands and Myanmar.
4) Schizostachyum kurzii Munro, Majumdar (Bambusa schizpstachyoides Kurz) Kurz ex gamble - an arborescent bamboo. 8-10 cm in diameter, clums 5-8 m high, This species is endemic to the Andaman Islands.
5) Schizostachyum rogersii Brandis - 2 cm in diameter , clum tufted, weak, up to 9 cm high,. This is a very rare species, endemic to the Andaman Islands.

According to the Forest Survey of India report, the total forest area under bBamboo is 8.96 million ha, which is about 12.8% of the total Forest area. The major bamboo growing areas are the North East states. The huge potential in Himalayan, Vindhyas foot hills, Eastern and Western Ghats remain untapped. The estimated annual harvest of bamboo, which is being put to different uses, is about 13.47 million metric tons.

There is a vast scope of expanding bamboo in areas outside forests because its management is easier in these lands than in natural forests and being close to user agencies, economic harvesting is possible.

Uses of Bamboo

Bamboo is an enduring, versatile and highly renewable resource. As bamboo can tolerate diverse soil and moisture regimes, it has the ability to stitch and repair degraded areas, it can conserve soil and moisture and is capable of drought-proofing. Its foliage offers shelter from the onslaught of tropical downpours, while its leaf litters (upto 10 cm in a year) cushions the soil from the impact of rain and eases the soil's absorption and retention of moisture. Bamboo preserves many exposed areas, providing micro-climates for forest regeneration and watershed protection. The plants vast underground rhizome network may cover upto 100 sq. m. around a single bamboo clum. It provides healthier environments by absorption of carbon. It also lowers light intensity and offers protection against the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It provides the fastest growing canopy possible for degraded lands, developing a micro-climate for conservation of biodiversity and yielding more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees. A bamboo forest is a part of the natural environmental cleansing system that converts pollutants into plant nutrients while producing valuable crops. Bamboo is known to be hardy, light and flexible and is sought fafter or its nutritional and environmental value.

Bamboo has more than 1,500 documented applications. Some of the main uses of bamboo are:

• Food items, mainly edible shoots
• Building and construction material, e.g. scaffolding, housing, bamboo grids in road construction
• Tiny and cottage industries, e.g. incense sticks (agarbatti), ice-cream, crackers, fishing rods and sticks
• Handicrafts and furniture
• New-generation products, e.g. wood substitutes, industrial products (such as activated carbon, truck bodies, railway carriages, bamboo boards, furniture)
• Medicinal products
• in large bamboo-based insurties, e.g. paper.

Bamboo Management

The management of Bamboo as a resource has been neglected and underutilized. It is considered a secondary species compared to forest timber and in non-forest area as a wild growth. Lack of scientific management, technology and industry-based demand have contributed to its under-developed state. There is, however, a huge gap between the present and potential yield. For example, while the highest yield in Assam, from Melocanna baccifira is 5 metric tons dry/ha, it is reported that with intensive culturing and fertilization, Dendrocalamus giganteus has given an annual yield of 20-30 metric tons/ha in Taiwan. Appropriate selection of site, choice of species, protection and silvicultural care can raise productivity substantially. This is all the more important as the flowering nature of bamboo has not so far led to genetic improvement strategies. Bamboo production technology has to be necessarily remain seed based, i.e. through seeds, offsets and storage centres. Indeed the in-vitro methods offer an attractive alternative to conventional methods for the mass propagation of bamboos.

There is ,in fact, a severe shortage of quality bamboo material. Hence the need for new bamboo plantations, which will be in the nature of "industrial plantations", to raise special-purpose species needed by industry or craft. The seeds are not always available due to the long flowering cycle and thus measures to extend tissue culture techniques are needed. Such techniques have been perfected for one or two bamboo species only. The location of plantations has to be in proximity of manufacturing centres or market s to be viable. These considerations require careful planning, selection of species, land preparation and management. Regulated plantation of selected species, sound management practices, proper harvest, post-harvest treatments, and new usages are essential steps for value-added products. Employment is generated in all these stages.

Bamboo should be promoted as an important component of agro-harvesting, particularly edible shoots. The paper industry, currently operating at about 41% of its capacity ,has been using only 1 million metric tons of bamboo due to non-availability, mainly on account of poor management of natural bamboo forests and practically no investment in raising new plantations. With some incentives, industries could be induced to use bamboo, with the paper industry capable of absorbing 6 million metric tons of bamboo while improving its capacity and utilization. This, in turn will generate additional employment in paper plants and spin-offs in other sectors. A large number of closed plywood, particle board and saw mill factories could be re-opened by a switch to bamboo.

The mechanism of flowering synchronously in long cycles renders Bamboo different from other plants. Most bamboo species have flowering cycles of 1, 3, 7, 11, 15, 30, 48, 60, or 120 years, at the end of which all plants of seed origin of the sasme species flower gregariously. Most species flower in a cycle of 30 to 40 years. The period between two such flowerings in the same area is called its psychological cycle. It is estimated that gregarious flowering will affect 30,000 sq. km. area of bamboo forest by 2004-07 including 18,000 sq. km. under "muli"-bamboo (Melocanna baccifer) a in the North Eastern states with epicenter in Mizoram. Bamboo standing there now will die after flowering. The nation cannot allow these rich resources to go to waste. Therefore, an action plan is required to harvest the Bamboo from these areas, an estimated at 26 million tons, and to use the bamboo yield to boost the bamboo-based industries and economic activities.

With this background, harvesting from gregarious flowering areas have become imperative. It will meet the short-term demand of industry on which depends the chance of reviving closed plywood, particle board and saw mills and of improving the utilization of paper mills. If harvesting is not done, gregarious flowering will result in environmental hazards including fire and famine conditions. Without an emergency plan to harvest from the flowering areas and simultaneous plantation in new areas, the bamboo economy cannot get out of the present stagnation and take to a new growth path.

Despite bamboo's well known characteristics and potential for multiple use, the bamboo sector suffers from technological constraints both in plantation and in terms of lack of application of known scientific methods in plantation, post-harvest treatment as well as in technology for product development and upgrading of workers' skills. These have led to sub-optimal use of the resources and low value addition. To a considerable extent, subsistence use of bamboo will continue as it is connected with the livelihood of rural people. Nevertheless, bamboo has to be developed both as an economic and environmental and nutritional ressource, and in mitigation of climate change.

Revenue Generation

Bamboo has to be market -and technology-driven. I has been estimated that the combined value of internal and commercial consumption of bamboo in the world is to the tune of US $ 10 billion (approximately Rs. 50,000 crore), expected to reach about US $ 20 billion by 2015. The size of the domestic bamboo economy today is Rs. 2,043 crore, while the market potential is estimated at Rs. 4,463 crore, with a projected annual average growth rate of 15-20%. The bamboo industry could grow to Rs. 26,000 crore by 2015, which is close to the current size of the bamboo industry of China. The potential growth areas to start within 2005 are bamboo shoots (Rs. 105 crore), bamboo based boards (Rs. 1000 crore), bamboo flooring board (Rs. 200 crore), paper and pulp industry (Rs. 990 crore), bamboo furniture (Rs. 380 crore), bamboo and construction (Rs. 550 crore), road construction (Rs. 274 crore) - on an assumption that bamboo or bamboo-based material will be used on an increasing scale in these activities. In addition, the total size of the agarbatti, pencil, match-stick, ice-cream stick, Venetian blinds and other miscellaneous items may increase by about Rs. 200 crore.

Consistent supply of specified quality bamboo is the key to growth and development of the industry. The current low level of use is due to several factors, such as the location of bamboo- based industries away from bamboo-rowing areas, use of whole bamboo where only lops and tops are needed (resulting in waste as the hard portion could have been put to better use for making bamboo boards), lack of technology for use of inferior-quality bamboo, lack of use of species for the purpose for which it is best suited for value addition, etc. Unscientific use, mismatching and inefficiency characterize bamboo resource use. The current demand for bamboo for various purposes is estimated at 26.69 million tons as against the supply of 13.47 million tons. Even the current supply is largely used for subsistence purposes in food, shelter, foot-bridges, fencing and industrial activities. Low yield/ha indicates poor management of existing bamboo forests of 8.96 million ha

Scope

In the handicrafts sector - which is next only to agriculture in providing employment in rural areas - there is enormous scope for expanding bamboo-based handicrafts. With 23 million people involved in crafts, bamboo-based handicrafts forms the second largest employment sector in India next to agriculture. Many agricultural and pastoral communities depend on their traditional craft skills as a secondary source of income in times of drought, lean harvest, flood and famines. Women's inherent skills in embroidery, basket weaving, etc. are natural means to social and financial independence.

One major constraint experienced has been the absence of information regarding machinery to be deployed, sources of procurement and the expected yield on which a project feasibility could be established. This is hampering the establishment of properly equipped Cluster Facility Centres (CFCs). Apart from technology, bamboo-based handicrafts also need quality raw material. Regulated plantations of selected species, sound management practices, culling, proper harvesting treatment and storage to produce quality product specially for the export market is highly desirable. It has been estimated that an average Common Facility Centre will require 3000 clums per month i.e. 36000 clums per year which is equivalent to 75 ha of plantation.

Use of bamboo rounds as props in horticulture, splints in making agarbattis and woven fine mats, has been traditional and will continue to grow. Experiments to introduce bamboo blinds are in vogue. It is estimated that a market of at least Rs. 600 crores can be expected annually for bamboo-based Venetian blinds if a mechanized process is available to produce the same. Development of bamboo weaving looms of the type used in China can help in making Venetian blinds of acceptable standards.

The current size of bamboo in the agarbatti market is approximately Rs. 135 crores and there is potential to increase the market further by Rs. 30 crores by mechanizing the splint making process and increasing production.

Close to one million tons of bamboo is utilized by the ice-cream, kites and crackers industries and other miscellaneous items such as lathis and fishing rods which are valued at Rs. 186 crores at present. The market for the miscellaneous items can be increased by another Rs. 40 crores using mechanized processes and promoting the use of bamboo in place of soft wood. The most appealing aspect of the industry is that with a few simple forms like slivers, round strips and splints, numerous value-added applications can be achieved. The Planning Commission's Report on the National Mission on Bamboo Technology and Trade Development mentions that the Mission will launch several initiatives to place bamboo as a key species and resources on the development agenda. The objective will be to use bamboo as a means to reclaim degraded land, conserve soil, improve the environment and carry out drought proofing. Bamboo plantations could be an important ingredient in the Greening India Programme, aiming at raising he forest cover to 25% by 2007 and 33% by 2012.

To organize harvesting of bamboo from gregarious flowering areas.

To expand area under bamboo plantation by 2 million ha in the tenth plan (1 million ha in forest and 1 million ha in areas outside forest) and overall 6 million ha in the tenth and eleventh plan.

Regular and scientific harvesting and extraction from bamboo stands to avoid/overcome congestion.

To improve, yield and stabilize the existing bamboo plantations.

To promote plantation of quality species needed by industry and the artisanal/handicraft sector with the involvement of JFM Committees, SHGs and NGOs.

To diversify, modernize and expand the bamboo-based industries and handicrafts by application of modern technologies while providing policy and financial support.

To use bamboo development as an instrument alleviation of poverty and employment generation, particularly in rural sector.

To use Bamboo as a means to achieve ecological security. Under the Kyoto Protocol of UNFCC, all countries have to take steps for reducing emission of GHG's through mitigation, like afforestation and improving the efficiency of energy consumption. Expansion of bamboo consumption will be in conformity with this international commitment. It will also promote organized production and processing of bamboo shoots with its consumption as a part of the national effort to eliminate micro-nutrient deficiency (widespread among women and children). Popularization of bamboo shoots could also improve the nutritional status of tribals in many parts of India. This will be in conformity with the strategy of the tenth plan to make a paradigm shift from overall self-sufficiency in food grains to meet human needs for energy and nutrition.

 Bamboo furniture and handicraft items

When shall we Learn?

In 1987, the department of Science and Technology, GoI had deputed a team headed by the legendary architect Padmashree Dr. Laurie W. Baker. The following are excerpts from the report submitted by Dr. Baker to DST.

Padmashree Dr. Laurie Baker during his visit to the islands made the following recommendations:

1. Compile list and quantities of reasonable normal islands' building requirements and supply the timber within normal reasonable forest felling and extraction policies.

2. Review the various timber products industries to establish whether the production and export of expensive high-grade plywoods is compatible with the policy conservation and preservation of forests in the islands.

3. Investigate the feasibility of replacing to some extent high grade marine and other ply for export, by low grade chip boards, saw dust sandwich board sets for internal island building use.

4. Confine timber sections to economical ones as approved and proposed by the Forest Research Institutes and Central Building Research Institutes.

5. Inter Island Improved Transport System are required for economic distribution of timber and its products.

6. Make greater use of timber felled by sea erosion.

7. No clearing of Forest land should be allowed for plantation replanting until experiments and full feasibility studies have been done. Also there must be moderation in the areas of Forest to be "developed" until early experimental and trial success is achieved.

8. For settlers and tribals and indeed all others, the introduction of energy efficient chullas and stoves is essential so that waste wood is not squandered for cooking and heating purpose of daily living.

9. Timber trusses for large spans should be discouraged or even forbidden, but engineered plywood trusses should be given preference as an alternative over steel or concrete trusses and beams (for which most of the materials have to be imported).

10. General education and propaganda throughout the islands is necessary. Every one (including officials) sees so much forest everywhere that there is no incentives to avoid lavish use of timber. Many ordinary people could honestly see no good reason why the use of timber should be restricted or curtailed. Again, education is essential to show that you cannot have your cake AND eat it too.

Encourage the Use of Bamboo

Very clearly, the tribal people and the settlers know far more about their own building efforts than "Experts" and "Engineers" who investigate local building materials and propose uses for them.

A lot of cane and bamboo is extensively used to advantage, and local people have trust and faith in this material. Continued use of bamboo in regular and pucca building word must be encouraged.

Repeatedly, this report refers to the use of steel in reinforced concrete construction and the necessity to import steel at high cost from mainland India. Dr. Masani and others of the Forest Reaearch Institute did a considerable amount of research on the use of certain natural split bamboos being used as an alternative to steel for RCC reinforcements.

Although this was never welcomed, or accepted by the engineering world of India, bamboo can, at least, successfully replace small items such as pre-cast treads and so on. This would remove the need to import expensively some steel rods, and this replaceable plantation product is a suitable natural commodity..

Source:
Planning Commission, GoI April 2003
National Mission on Bamboo Technology And Trade Development. 

There is always room for a couple of beers

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cans of beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents our life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions, things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the garbage disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

"The Telegraph" got a copy of a USPC candidate's essay on the topic of the "The Indian Cow"

Essay 1
"The cow is a successful animal. Also he is quadrupud and because he is female, he give milk, but will do so when he is got child. He is same like God, sacred to Hindus and useful to man. But he has got four legs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. His whole body can be utilised for use. More so the milk. What can it do? Various ghee, butter, cream, curd, why and the condensed milk and so forth. Also he is useful to cobbler, watermans and mankinds generally. "Cow is the only animal that extricates his feeding after eating. He is incessantly in the meadows in the grass. His only attacking and defending organ is the horn specially so when he is got child. He causes the weapons to be paralleled to the ground of the earth and instantly proceed with great velocity forwards. He has got tail also but not like simila animals. It has hair on the other end of the other side. This is done to frighten away the flies which alight on his body whereupon he gives hit with it. The palms of his feet are soft unto the touch. This is the cow.

The daily says they "were informed that the candidate passed the exam.

Essay 2
This essay about The Cow,is written by a student of Sixth Form:
"A cow is an automatic milk-producing machine. It is mounted on four stilts and is covered with raw hide. Grass and hay are the main raw materials fed through the front hopper. The hopper has a built-in crusher connected to a digester. It also has two antennas, two headlights and a bull horn. The milk dispensing mechanism is at the rear end, a little ahead of the two rear stilts. The machine has even an automatic fly-swatter at the rear end. The effluent from the cow plant is ejected through an aperture located just below the automatic fly-swatter. Even this effluent called cow dung is said to be an excellent manure used to fertilize the farmers' fields.

A cow, indeed s a very versatile machine.

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