Wed Sep 17 15:50:02 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, along with a brief overview of The Hindu’s other content:

**NEWS ARTICLE:**

**Kerala Advocate Champions Bamboo as ‘Green Gold’ on Eve of International Bamboo Day**

**PALAKKAD, September 17, 2025** – As the world prepares to celebrate International Bamboo Day on Thursday, K.C. John, a passionate advocate from Kalladikode, Kerala, is urging greater recognition of bamboo’s potential as “green gold.” Mr. John, an environmentalist and bamboo planter, has become a leading expert, advising individuals and agencies across India on cultivating and utilizing this versatile plant.

Mr. John emphasizes bamboo’s economic, aesthetic, and environmental benefits, highlighting its over 15,000 applications. He notes that bamboo’s rapid growth makes it a powerful tool for creating microclimates, increasing water tables, removing soil toxins, and significantly reducing dust pollution.

“Latest studies have proved that bamboo is ideal to prevent soil erosion. Bamboo is a carbon sink superstar: one plant absorbs 400 kg of CO2 and releases 300 kg of oxygen yearly, outpacing many plants by producing 35 per cent more oxygen,” said Mr. John.

He lauded the Prime Minister’s recent inauguration of a mega ethanol production plant using bamboo in Assam, and the progress being made by Maharashtra and Assam in leveraging bamboo for sustainable energy production. However, he expressed concern that Kerala is not fully capitalizing on bamboo’s potential, which includes energy production, biofuels, and other valuable products. He hopes the new generation will embrace this “green gold” and unlock its full potential. Mr. John cultivates 36 varieties of bamboo at his home, serving as a testament to its diversity and adaptability.

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