NE’s first rubber park to be opened in Tripura

AGARTALA, June 23 – Union Minister for Industries and Commerce Anand Sharma will open the North East’s first rubber park at Bodhjungnagar Industrial Estate, 12 km from the capital town here.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and State Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury will also attend the inaugural function scheduled for July 2, official sources confirmed here on Wednesday.

Around 80 acres of land has been developed as Rubber Park at Bodhjungnagar Industrial Estate, one of the best industrial hubs in the entire Northeastern region. The Rubber Board and the Centre have rendered technical as well infrastructural support to develop the park at a cost of Rs 23 crore.

As many as six companies having expertise in rubber industry has taken land in the rubber park and out of which one company has already started their operation inside the park. Besides, more companies have approached the State Government for land but there is a scarcity of suitable plots within the park.

It is expected, Rs 300 crore would be invested in the rubber park that might bring a sea change in the State’s rubber cultivation.

The State’s rubber industry is one of the largest industries in the Northeastern State. The State is credited to be the nation’s second largest producer of raw rubber.

At present, the plantations cover an expanse of 35,760 hectares and the net capacity for the growth of plantations is estimated to be 1,00,000 heactares. Over 18,455 tonnes of rubber is being produced annually and the production indices are rapidly increasing. However, a substantial quantity of raw rubber is being taken out of the State for processing.