Northeast people have been using bamboo as a construction material since time immemorial. The region’s civilisation is based on bamboo culture. At the same time, bamboo materials (treated, hardened and processed) should be affordable and cost-effective as compared to other building materials, says AIMS.
TFM Desk
Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur State Bamboo Mission, Government of Manipur, Manipur University, Canchipur, and CSIR-NEIST, Lamphelpatwould be jointly organising a two-day International Seminar on “Bamboo Plantation, Hardening and Bamboo as Earthquake Proof materials for Construction” from November 7 to 8, 2022 at Hotel Classic Grande, Imphal East.
According to a press note issued by AIMS, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) asserts that Northeast India is highly vulnerable to earthquakes as geo-morphologically, this region falls under the Seismic Hazard Zone V, the highest in the seismic map of India. In the last 100 years, the region has experienced 18 large earthquakes (M>7). This includes the great earthquakes of Shillong (1897) and the Assam-Tibet border (1950),
both with M=8.7. Besides, several small and microearthquakes have also been recorded frequently in the region. For example, on 4th January 2016, an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale with its epicentre in Kabui Khullen in Tamenglong district of Manipur struck the state. Moreover, in 2020 an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted Northeast India, including Assam, Manipur,
Tripura, and Mizoram.
While India possesses the technological know-how to build quake-proof bamboo houses, easy-to-acquire and transfer, cheaper and user-friendly technologies are making inroads in the world bamboo scenario. What matters at the moment is acquiring such technology which is closer to the traditional architectural design and ways of life of the Northeast people in general and Manipur in particular.
It is because, traditionally, Northeast people have been using bamboo as a construction material since time immemorial. In other words, Northeast civilisation is based on bamboo culture. At the same time, bamboo materials (treated, hardened and processed) should be affordable and cost-effective as compared to other building materials.
This brings us to the understanding that bamboo varieties suitable for construction need to be available abundantly. Therefore, there is the need for mass-scale bamboo plantation in the region.
Whether bamboo propagation occurs through natural seedlings or tissue culture depends on the orientation of the Government at the policy level. However, there is a need to encourage common people to undertake bamboo plantations and also opt bamboo as a quake-proof building material.
The Seminar will broadly be divided into three technical sessions for the benefit of bamboo growers, farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, fabricators, architects and engineers:
* Earthquakes in Manipur and Northeast India
* Bamboo Hardening Processes
* Bamboo Plantation and Management
Resource persons from reputed institutes and various parts of India will present papers on various aspects of Earthquake and importance of Bamboo. Dr. Jean-Luc Kouyoumji, President, Bamboo Science & Innovation and World Bamboo Ambassador, will also present his paper on Bamboo Treatment, Construction, Design, Products and Implementation. Through this Press Release, we would like to invite farmers, entrepreneurs, Architectures, Interior Designers, wooden fabricators and bamboo lovers to take part in this Seminar to gather knowledge on various technologies pertaining to Bamboo, said a press the press note issued by Mayanglambam Khelendro Singh, president, AIMS.