A manual briquetting machine was on Wednesday installed by Nowshera Forest Division 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.
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.
