Bhubaneswar: Odisha Govt today dismisses allegation of centre over restriction on collection of bamboo from forests by tribals for self use. Chief Secretary B K Patnaik said that the state government had been allowing tribals to collect bamboo from forests for their captive use.

Patnaik said that there is absolutely no restriction on collection of bamboo from forests by tribals for self use. Artisans who prepare bamboo articles for livelihood are allowed to collect bamboo from forests. He said this in response to Union Tribal Affairs Minister V K Deo's letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Earlier Union Tribal Affairs Minister V K Deo wrote in the letter to Patnaik. In this letter he urged cm Patnaik to issue necessary instructions to the concerned authorities to allow unfettered rights of transit for sale of bamboo by Gram Panchayat to local buyers which is a right given to them under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).