Nowshera Forest Divn installs Chir Pine Briquitting Machine at Bhajwal village of Sunderbani Forest Range

Rajouri : A Manual briquetting machine was Wednesday 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 it is also portable. 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 a number of Sarpanches, Panches and local people.
Speaking on occasion, Neelima Shah, Divisional Forest Officer, Nowshera said that Chir forests of Nowshera Forest Division are vulnerable to forest fires. Every year several hectare Chir forest burn due to the fallen Chir pine needles. To minimise the incidents Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera promoted the use of utilizing the fallen Chir needles as resources. The Divisional Forest Officer contacted IIT Rurkee and the manual machine was installed at village Bhajwal.
The process of briquetting out of chir needle will mitigate forest fire on the one hand and generate employment on the other hand.
Arun Kumar, Chairman Block Development Council Sunderbani welcomed the initiative of Nowshera Forest Division. He said that Sunderbani block is always ready to help the forest department in containing forest fires. The BDC Chairman also said that he will get more machines in his jurisdiction so that fire incidences could be contained.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sunderbani said that it is a welcome step of forest department as the unit will help in containing fire incidents and generate employment for local youth. He asked the participants to constitute SHGs and work with forest department to conserve the green gold.
Rakesh Verma Range Forest Officer Sunderbani said that Sunderbani Forest Range has constituted SHGs/VFCs which will work in close coordination with forest department to prepare chir pine briquettes. He said that a team of IIT Rurkee has come to impart training to locals 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 Panchayat 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.
The 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.
Rakesh Verma, Range Forest Officer Sunderbani thanked Arun Kumar, Chairman Block Development Council, Neelima Shah, Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera, Vinod Banyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunderbani, Lok Nath Sarpanch Bhajwal, Panches, general public, Nishi Kant chairman press club Sunderbani and staff of sunderbani Forest Range for making the event successful.
The whole programme was conducted under the direct supervision of Vivek Verma IFS, Conservator of Forest, West Circle Rajouri.
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