“We promote sustainable development with green gold — bamboo,’’ proclaims Uravu Eco Links. Bamboo is not called green gold for nothing. It is a miracle plant that can be used for building scaffolding, bridges, and houses. Bamboo has a higher compressive strength than wood, a fact most people are hardly aware of. Those who leave no stone unturned to make their dream home perfect and interiors uniquely designed, however, give no thought to the green gold. So, Uravu Eco Links which participated at the Bamboo Fest held at Kochi, makes us think different. It provides green building solutions using locally available materials including bamboo.
Uravu, a network of community-based organisations functioning in Thrikkaipetta panchayat of Wayanad district since 2004, has been drawing people’s attention to myriad possibilities bamboo offers. Uravu promotes the production of bamboo handicrafts that generate income for rural women. It also runs as a training centre with skillful trainees to teach different applications of bamboo. “The objective of Uravu is to make use of bamboo as a sustainable material,” says its operation managing head Manoj. Uravu Eco Links implemented the Uravu Bamboo Grove Resort in Thrikkaipetta aiming at a sustainable tourism project involving local people. The basic requirements at the resort are fulfilled by locals and the employees are from the area, too.
“Uravu Eco Links has proved that we could live in a bamboo house for years, the only thing we have to do is its maintenance. Even concrete buildings require that,” Manoj adds. Bamboo can be harvested for around 45-50 years once it is planted. It can be harvested five years after planting it. Manoj explains, “Countries like China and Indonesia have bamboo farms. With scientific methods of farming, they earn lots of money. However, for us, bamboo is a worthless, wild plant and we give it absolutely no care. We have plenty of bamboo varieties, but we do not treat it as a building material.”
Uravu Eco Links has implemented projects like bamboo cafeteria, bamboo bridges and bamboo reinforced roof. Bamboo has unbelievable qualities; its strength and flexibility are suitable for all kinds of constructions. It grows rapidly and is readily available almost everywhere. It is also non-polluting. It can be combined with many other materials to create varieties.
