NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday promulgated an Ordinance, amending the Indian Forest Act, 1927 which with immediate effect exempts bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the requirement of felling/transit permit. The move will encourage bamboo plantation by farmers and help enhance their income.The Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 comes a day after the Union cabinet approved the amendment. A bill to replace the Ordinance is most likely to be introduced in the Parliament during its forthcoming winter session next month. The exemption will be meant only for those grown on non-forest land. Though India has 19% share of world's area under bamboo cultivation, its market share in the sector is only 6%.

Source: Times of India November 23, 2017 15:33 UTC