Bihar Government is working to improve agro forestry to promote plywood and veneer industry in the state. The government has recently directed the officials to prepare a plan in this direction, which will help to increase Green Cover, income of farmers along with sustainable supply of wood to plywood and veneer industry. The Government during a meeting of Udyami Panchayat on plywood, veneer and furniture industry organised in Patna asked their officials to take necessary action and prepare specific policy to promote wood based industry in the state in accordance with the stakeholders in this industry. The Chief Minister Mr Nitish Kumar directed their officials to prepare a road map for the development of pulp wood and paper industry also, besides plywood, veneer and furniture industries.
The officials have also asked to suggesting necessary changes in existing industrial investment promotion policy 2016 for better output that can increase interest of industrialist in this regard. “Our main aim is to increase the state’s green cover, along with the income of farmers,” said Mr Nitish Kumar, CM, Govt of Bihar. Earlier, the CM asked the industrialists present on the occasion as to what were the hurdles in promoting wood based industries in the state.
Present in the meeting Bihar Industries Association’s (BIA) president Sanjay Goenka suggested to promote agro-forestry and large-scale production of soft woods like ‘Poplar’ and ‘Semal’ trees, to which the CM agreed and assured to brought it in preview of agriculture department instead of forest department.
He also took interest to use local items in government building construction and its furnishing. His interest to use local furnishing items in government buildings will promote regional industries. Representatives of Bihar chamber of Commerce and Industries and furniture industries also attended the meeting. The Industries minister Mr Shyam Rajak also expressed his views on the promotion of plywood and veneer industries in the state.