Wednesday, 23 OCTOBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Forest department will set up seven new pirul (dry pine needles) based units in the State to enhance the collection and use of pirul for making briquettes and palettes. This decision comes following the directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Forest minister Subodh Uniyal for measures to boost pirul collection and utilisation in order to check forest fires while also boosting the income of locals. Officials said that the department is working to set up at least one briquette/palette unit in the pine covered ranges of forest divisions while also setting the target for pirul collection. The divisional forest officers concerned have been directed to boost the operation of the units currently in operation to ensure cent per cent use of the pirul to enhance production of briquettes and palettes. Approval has also been granted for setting up seven new units including three in Almora, two in Champawat and one each in Garhwal and Narendranagar. In addition to this, the department officials have also been directed to coordinate with the district magistrates concerned, district industry officers and other officials concerned to set up new units. Officials further informed that the department has set a target to set up at least one briquette/palette unit each in the 57 ranges of pine covered forest divisions with more than 5,000 hectare area with pine trees. The initiative of the department to focus on increasing the number of collection and briquette/palette units is expected to help in checking forest fires while also boosting the income of locals. The inflammable pine resin is considered to be a major factor responsible for forest fires which are witnessed every year in Uttarakhand.
