Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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The (bamboo) price and the paper
The projected demand of paper and raw materials thereof, in India, was estimated at 6.7
and 18.8 million tons respectively, whereas the shortfall in actual production of the same
was estimated at 2.5 and 7 million tons respectively. The shortfall was also estimated to
increase respectively to 3.7 and 10.4 million tons by 2010-2011. Hence, the scope for
paper industry as well as the raw material supply is very high. However, like other items
paper market has also experienced fluctuations, and the price of paper has decreased
several times due to various factors. The resentment of paper mills in Orissa lies in the fact
that the price of industrial bamboo in the state increased by 46% during 1994-2000
against a decrease in paper prices by 27%(Sharada A.K., op.cit.). On the other hand, the
hike in bamboo price was also an outcome of the situation in the state. For instance, the
working cost was estimated to increase from Rs. 325/SU in 1989-90, to Rs.610/SU after
the govt increased the minimum daily wage from Rs.11 to Rs.25 in 1990-91. It is not that
the Emp. Committee on bamboo never took into consideration the fall in paper prices.
Rather, in their meeting on 22-9-1997, the Committee carefully considered the then
prevailing market situation of paper and accordingly took the decision on increasing the
royalty at 5% extra of the 1996-97 rate. Still, establishment cost has been a matter of
concern for OFDC particularly after it's chief source of income, i.e. timber, was lost after
the ban imposed on timber extraction.
Advantages of river transport
TP mills ensured its raw material supply basically through river transport. The bamboo
bundles were turned into rafts in a very systematic way, and then were floated downstream
in the Mahanadi river so as to reach the paper mill at Chowdwar. The lower end was
Chahata ghaat(nearest to TP Mill) and the upper end, Dhalpur(Phulbani). Following
scheme shows the route and collection centres(ghaats) alongwith the forest areas(within
bracket) from which bamboo was harvested
Dhalpur
Chahata
Kumari Titigan Tikarpada Badamul Routpada Banpur
(Boud) & (Angul) (Daspalla (Manibhadra) (Nayagarh)
Dolamundai
&
(Athamallik)
Boud)
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