RAJOURI: A Mannual Chir Pine briquetting machine was today installed by Nowshera Forest Division here at village Bhajwal of Sunderbani Forest Range.
The machine has been developed by IIT Rurkee. It is very easy to operate and also potable.
Women Men and even elderly persons can easily operate it. The machine was test run by Arun Kumar Chairman Block Development Council Sunderbani in presence of Vinod Banyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sunderbani, Neelima Shah, Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera, Lok Nath Sarpanch Bhajwal, Rakesh Verma Range Forest Officer Sunderbani and number of Sarpanches, Panches and local people.
Speaking on occasion, Divisional Forest Officer, Nowshera Neelima Shah said that Chir forests of Nowshera Forest Division are vulnerable to forest fires. Every year hectares of Chir forest burn due to the fallen Chir pine needles and thus Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera came forward to mitigate the forest fire by utilizing the fallen chir needles as resources.
“We contacted IIT Rurkee and got a manual machine installed at village Bhajwal. The process of briquetting out of Chir needle will mitigate forest fire on one hand and generate employment on the other hand,” she said and added that the machine was launched by Pr. Chief Conservator of Forest (HoFF) on 5th of January at Jammu.
Arun Kumar Chairman Block Development Council Sunderbani overwhelmingly welcomed the imitative of Nowshera Forest Division. He said that Sunderbani block is always ready to help the forest department in containing forest fires. He also said that he will get more machines in his jurisdiction so that fire incidences could be contained.
Vinod Baniyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sunderbani said that it is a welcome step of forest department as besides containing fire incidents, local youth can also get employment by making Chir Pine Briquettes. He asked the participants to constitute SHGs and work with forest department to conserve the green gold.
Rakesh Verma, Range Forest Officer, Sunderbani, while speaking on the occasion, said that Sunderbani Forest Range has constituted SHGs/VFCs which will work in close coordination with forest department in preparation of chir pine briquettes. He said that a team of IIT Rurkee has come to impart training in handling of machine, preparation of briquettes, packing and further marketing.
Lok Nath, Sarpanch Bhajwal said that it is an initiative which will conserve the green gold, his panchyat will help forest department at every level as and when required.
He also requested Divisional Forest Officer, Nowshera to hold chir needle handicraft training at Bhajwal so that women of village Bhajwal will get benefitted. Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera said that Nowshera Forest Division have master trainers who will impart training, when the SHGs gets constituted the training will be imparted.

KR Desk