Industry to use pine needle briquettes as fuel

The Forest Department will shortly set up 25 units for making briquettes out of highly inflammable pine needles which will be sold to the cement industry as an alternate fuel. The department has prepared the state policy for use of pine needles which will ensure involvement of mahila mandals, panchayati raj bodies, yuvak clubs and voluntary organizations. The company which will provide machinery and equipment will visit Mandi on December 5 next month. “A Faridabad-based company is providing the machinery as per the design and technology prepared by IIT Mandi experts. The entire expenditure on setting up one unit will cost anywhere between Rs 5 and Rs 10 lakh.
The use of pine needles and lantana for making briquettes will serve the town purpose of reducing forest fires and at the same time providing livelihood avenues to the women and self help groups.

The Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) have already been asked to identify the sites where the units have to be set up. Pine forest belts will have more units than areas where there incidence of forest fires is less. DFO, Mandi, has been appointed as the Nodal Officer for the procurement of the units. The task of setting up these units will be entrusted to entrepreneurs who will be provided a subsidy of 50 per cent of the capital cost. The Forest Department will help in the collection and transportation of pine needles by providing funds from the Forest Fire Protection scheme fund.

The Department of Environment, Science and Technology has already made it mandatory for cement units to substitute at least one per cent of the existing fuel consumption through biomass and combustible solid mass, which includes pine and lantana briquette. Forests worth lakhs are destroyed every year in fires across the state. The highest concentration of pine forests are found in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur districts.

What is Briquetting :

Briquetting is the process by which pine needles are compressed under high pressure to form a round or square briquette, which can be used as a fuel. “During the compression process, temperatures rise sufficiently to make the needles release adhesive which helps in holding the particles together,” revealed experts.

Will it reduce forest fires 

• The use of pine needles and lantana for making briquettes will reduce forest fires.
• This will also provide livelihood avenues to the women and self help groups.
• Forests are destroyed every year in fires that rage across the state in pine forests during the peak summer season when the pine needles become highly inflammable.

Forests of Himachal :

• The Forests of Himachal Pradesh known for their grandeur and majesty are like a green pearl in the Himalayan crown. This life supporting systems are presently under great stress due to impact of modern civilization, economic development and growth in human and cattle population.
• According to national Forest Policy, 1988, atleast two third i.e. 66 of the geographical area should be under forest in the hilly states like Himachal Pradesh. However, keeping in view that about 20 of the area is inaccessible and beyond the tree limit, the State Government aims to bring 50 of the geographical area under forest cover.
• The forests of the State have been classified on an ecological basis as laid down by Champion and Seth, and can be broadly classified into Coniferous Forests and broad-leaved Forests. Distribution of various species follows fairly regular altitudinal stratification. The vegetation varies from Dry Scrub Forests at lower altitudes to Alpine Pastures at higher altitudes. In between these two extremes, distinct vegetational zones of Mixed Deciduous Forests, Bamboo, Chil, Oaks, Deodar, Kail, Fir and Spruce, are found. The richness and diversity of our flora can be gauged from the fact that, out of total 45,000 species found in the country as many as 3,295 species (7.32) are reported in the State. More than 95 of the species are endemic to Himachal Pradesh and characteristic of Western Himalayan flora, while about 5 (150 species) are exotic, introduced over the last 150 years.
• The forests of Himachal Pradesh are rich in vascular flora, which forms the conspicuous vegetation cover. Out of total 45,000 species of plants found in the country as many as 3,295 species (7.32) are reported in the State. More than 95 of species are endemic to Himachal and characteristic of Western Himalayan flora, while about 5 (150 species) are exotic introduced over the last 150 years.

By: Pooja Sharda