New Delhi: The environment and forests ministry took half a step towards ending the monopoly of the forest department over the Rs 10,000 crore annual bamboo trade in the country. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh wrote to chief ministers of all states to alter their rules and instruct the state forest officers to treat bamboo as a minor forest produce. This would, technically, allow villagers and tribals to also take part in the trade. The Forest Rights Act in 2006 defined bamboo as minor forest produce but forest officials refused to deal with it accordingly and instead held a monopoly control on the trade. Ramesh, writing to chief ministers, cleared the legal position on the lucrative product. But the fine print of his letter left doubts whether bamboo trade would really benefit substantial numbers. Ramesh recommended that complete rights over the trade be given in areas where tribals and others