Manipur, July 13 -- Scientifically, bamboos are known as a group of evergreen plants that belong to the grass family known as poaceae. They grow in varied climates and mainly spread through their roots or rhizomes. Scientists have long concluded that bamboo is not a tree but a grass. However, one also notes that according to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, it was considered a tree. This act made felling of bamboos from outside forest areas and the transportation of the same illegal. This had led to numerous issues and problems for bamboo growers in the past.

On December 20, 2017, a bill to exclude bamboo from the definition of 'tree' under the Indian Forest Act was passed by the Lok Sabha and categorised bamboo as a grass. Bringing bamboo o...