Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Monday inaugurated mass plantation of bamboo at Mapao Christian village, Pangei Yangdong, Kangpokpi District, Manipur, a release stated.

The mass plantation programme, organised by Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), Manipur, with the support from the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC), Burnihat, Guwahati (Assam); North Eastern Council and DoNER Ministry, plans to grow more than 4,000 bamboos with different varieties of bamboo.

AIMS director Atom Sunil Singh stated that the establishment of a Bamboo Park in Manipur is RK Ranjan's long dream and is dedicated to his daughter's birthday, Late Diana Rajkumari. The programme began with with  one-minute silence for the departed soul, it stated.

Speaking at the programme, CSIR-NEIST senior principal scientist H Birkumar Singh asserted that bamboo is the most potential bio resource. However, people of Manipur, do not understand these potentials. We cannot develop without knowing our resources, Singh added.

Dr S Manikanta Singh, Additional Director (Retired), Health Services; Professor Rajen Singh Laishram, Head, Department of Political Science, Manipur University; Professor RK Dilip, Central Agricultural University; Chingakham Brajakishor, Scientist-D, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal; Dr Wahengbam Ibomcha Singh; JNMDA Guru Meihoubam Seityaban Singh; RK Tomba, social activist and Mayanglambam Khelendro Singh, president, (AIMS) attended the programme as guests of honour, it stated.