Guwahati, Aug 4 (KNN) The Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched Amrit Brikshya Andolan web portal/mobile application and the Wood-based Industry (WBI) registration web portal.

Speaking at the event held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati, CM Sarma also announced an initiative to plant one crore saplings of commercial trees on September 17, 2023.

“By encouraging commercial tree plantation in the state, we want to boost the economy of the farmers. This plantation drive will help revive the dying wood-based industry in the state. This will help the growth of mini and micro wood-based industries in the state without any pressure on the forest,” he said.

He referred to the launch of the web portal/ Mobile app as the first step towards achieving the target of 1 crore sapling plantation in the state.

On wood-based industries, the Chief Minister said, “With the launch of this web portal, we will streamline the functioning of the wood-based industries in Assam to a greater extent, and this investor-friendly business climate in the state is expected to attract big-ticket investment in the state in the form of the establishment of 100 percent export-oriented integrated furniture making units and create significant employment directly and indirectly.”

“The Supreme Court’s ban on tree felling in the Northeast in 1996 has led to the closure of many plywood industries, saw mills, and wood-based industries in the state. Taking that in view, the State government has eased the rules meant for the revival of the wood-based industries in the state. This will pave the way for taking up wood-based industries as cottage industries in rural areas,” he said.  (KNN Bureau)