Is it a tree? Is it a shrub? Is it a weed? No, it is a grass silly! We learnt that Bamboo was one of the fastest growing grasses in the world when we were in the fifth standard.
But the Law in India says that the bamboo is a tree, for heaven's sake. And the Law is an Ass!
The British, wily as they were, promulgated the Indian Forests Act (1927), and classified a scientifically recognised grass as a tree. the reason was probably that you could get a hell of a lot of revenue from the bamboo.
Apart from this mindboggling range of products, Bamboo has other properties which make it invaluable to us.
Most importantly bamboo ois the poor man's wood, but all the retrograde laws and taxes bar the poor man from access to bamboo.
Inthe North East of India, the flowering of the bamboo is an event that leaves its mark on an entire generation. It is said that when the bamboo flowers misfortune comes. Read about it here
In Sikkim, in Shillong, in Assam, and in Jharkhand, I've sampled different delicious dishes with bamboo as the base ingredient.
In Sikkim, in Shillong, in Assam, and in Jharkhand, I've sampled different delicious dishes with bamboo as the base ingredient.
The Supreme Court has clearly stated in its ruling that Bamboo is to be treated as a grass, but the IFA has not been amended. Getting the grass off the 'tree' list will actually help in the better growth of bamboo.
Bamboo is not a tree petition
1 comment:
The House with the Bamboo Door was hot in '54. The Law is really an Ass if it can't recognise grass.
What it really does is make the bamboo very expensive because it's taxed like a tree.
And most of us don't know, but now that we know we should give a damn... a small one at least.
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