Set up pine needle-based units, get 50% subsidy

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 2

The Forest Department will help supply raw material to entrepreneurs, who set up pine needle-based industrial units, besides coordinating for marketing of their products.

This was stated by Ajay Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) at a meeting with officials and entrepreneurs here today.

He said as a step towards assured marketing, cement units would use 1 per cent of the biofuel in their boilers. He exhorted the entrepreneurs to come forward to set up pine needle-based units and save the forest wealth.

The officials also deliberated upon the policy of collection and removal of chil pine needles from forest land, besides setting up of units for manufacturing briquettes, pellets as biofuel, composite boards, paper making and other innovative products.

The state government is providing investment subsidy of 50 per cent of the capital cost for establishing such units. PL Chauhan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Management, elaborated upon the policy guidelines for chil pine needle-based units in Himachal.

The officials said steps would be taken to encourage large-scale removal of pine needles, which would immensely help in saving the forest wealth from fires and also provide employment to locals.