20/12/2025
Research Symposium held successfully at BRTC, Chichpalli on Foundation Day
Bamboo highlighted as “Green Gold” for Sustainable Development
Chandrapur, December 16, 2025:
On the occasion of the Foundation Day of the Bamboo Research and Training Centre (BRTC), Chichpalli, a grand Sports, Cultural Festival and Research Symposium was successfully organized on 15th and 16th December 2025. With the objective of providing a dedicated and robust platform for bamboo research and innovation, a one-day Research Symposium was held on 16th December 2025 at the BRTC campus.
The inaugural ceremony of the symposium was graced by eminent dignitaries including Shri M. S. Reddy, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Maharashtra State; Dr. Madhavi Khode, IAS, Additional Divisional Commissioner, Nagpur; and Shri Nitin Vyavahare, Additional District Collector, as chief guests.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Shri Manojkumar Khairnar, Director, BRTC, presented an overview of the Centre’s ongoing research initiatives, training programs, industrial linkages, and future vision for strengthening the bamboo sector.
In his presidential address, Shri M. S. Reddy, IFS, described bamboo as “Green Gold” and emphasized its vital role in climate change mitigation, green development, employment generation, and building a sustainable economy. He stressed the importance of collaboration among government departments, research institutions, and industries to accelerate the growth of bamboo-based enterprises.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Madhavi Khode, IAS, referred to the recently announced Maharashtra Bamboo Industrial Policy 2025, highlighting bamboo as a key resource for livelihood generation, rural development, and green industries. She emphasized that BRTC should play a pivotal role in policy implementation through focused research, innovation, prototyping, skill development, and vocational training. She also underlined the need for market-oriented bamboo products, advanced processing research, and structured certification programs, while advocating the integration of bamboo education into formal academic curricula.
On this occasion, Dr. Khode also highlighted the MoU between Nagpur University and BRTC, stating that academic collaboration, joint research, internships, and certification programs would significantly promote bamboo technology and entrepreneurship. Her address reinforced BRTC’s role as a nodal institution in realizing the State’s bamboo development vision.
During the technical sessions, researchers and experts from across Maharashtra presented research papers on diverse themes such as value addition of bamboo handicrafts, development of bamboo preservatives using essential oils, AI and IoT-based smart bamboo cultivation, bamboo charcoal-based energy generation, life cycle assessment of bamboo and other construction materials, medicinal properties of bamboo species, and eco-friendly bamboo preservation techniques.
The symposium witnessed participation from several eminent experts including Shri Lalsingh (Senior Scientist, NEERI Nagpur), Dr. Prakash Itankar (Nagpur University), Dr. K. T. V. Reddy (Dean, Datta Meghe Medical Institution), Dr. A. N. Gupta (JD College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur), Shri Dinesh Lakade (Structural Expert, Wardha), Prof. Pramod Mahalle (DMIHER University), Shri Deep Verma (MGIRI Wardha), Dr. Prashant Tayade, Dr. Sandeep Joshi, Dr. Vijay Illorker, Ar. Ashish Nagpurkar (VNIT Nagpur), Ms. Nidhi Gandhi (Fashion Designer),Dr. Monikuntala Das (IIT Guwhati) and Dr. Tarika Dagadkar (SMMCA Nagpur), along with many other distinguished professionals and researchers.
The symposium delivered a strong message on the need to align research, policy, industry, and skill development to provide a new direction for the sustainable growth of the bamboo sector.
At the conclusion of the programme, Shri A. D. Mallewar, Forest Range Officer, proposed a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, researchers, speakers, participants, organizers, and the entire BRTC team. The programme was efficiently anchored by Ms. Sneha Mandekar. The organizers expressed confidence that the Research Symposium would serve as a significant milestone in promoting bamboo-based sustainable development in the State.