The Potential of Madhya Pradesh for Pulp, Paper and Newsprint Mills

The forests of Madhya Pradesh account for nearly a quarter of the total forest area of the country. Likewise, the Bamboo potential of the State constitutes nearly one fourth of the total potential of the country. Since the availability of Bamboo is a major constraint for the development of the pulp, paper,and newprint Industry, an appraisal has been made in this paper of the Baboo potential of the State, and its distribution by broad regions. Based on this study a blueprint bas been put forward for the allocation of capacities, and for the location of new units. It has been shown in this paper that the total capacity which Madhya Pradesh could claim would be 800,000 tonnes of finisbed products, which works out to 10 per cent of the projected requirements of the country for the year 1988-89. The break-up by items of manufacture would be : paper, and paper board 400,000 tunes; newsprints 250,000 tonnes; and rayon grade pulp 150,000 tones. It bas been shown in the paper that the setting up of pulp, paper, and newsprint mills would, contribute significantly to the economy of the State, and that the benefits to the backward and remote areas would be significant. The Government of Madhya Pradesh have recently taken a decision to nationalize Bamboo trade. This would present the State authorities an excellent opportunity of reviewing past policies, and actions with a view to formulating a rational and pragmatic policy of allocating the Bamboo resources for the development of pulp, paper, and newsprint industries.