IMPHAL, August 2013: A gazebo made of bamboo and built by craft trainees during a workshop has been instituted at Kangla with the gazebo being formally handed over to the Kangla Fort Board in a function held at Kangla Utra today.
The structure which cost around Rs 80,000 was developed by Kamesh Salam, Executive director of South Asia Bamboo Federation (SABF). The workshop was held earlier in June last and the structure comprising of a thatched roof , a circular bamboo frame and bamboo rail was completed by around 75 trainees then. “I am impressed with the seat design of the gazebo,” commissioner of Art and Culture, Rk Nimai said at the function. The seat made of compressed bamboo is like a hard board and very durable. According to Kamesh Salam, the board manufactured at Assam is currently experimentally used instead of steel for building a bus outer body at Bangalore. “This is a viable substitute for timber also,” he added.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Th Ibobi mentioned that the gazebo design is simple and yet elegant. The materials used signify the talented craftsmanship coupled with the abundant forest resources of the State. He observed that such structures can add beauty to the tourist spots and attract foreign tourists at the same time.
The program was attended by the workshop trainees and certificates were also handed at the function. The workshop was participated by bamboo craftsmen of Manipur Cycle Club who were trained at China for bamboo technology.
Kamesh, who is an advisor of the Manipur Cycle Club also mentioned that Bamboo bicycles are much sought in foreign countries and demands are there for the cycles at present. He said that MCC would also begin building bamboo bicycles for sales to potential foreign buyers.