IIT Mandi organised a training workshop on the use of briquette machine for dry pine needle

Mandi: Indian Institute of Technology Mandi’s Centre for Innovative Technology for the Himalayan Region (CITHR) organised a workshop on the ‘use of briquette machine for dry pine needle briquetting’ today, 26th December 2018. A total of 24 entrepreneurs from a different division of Himachal joined the workshop. The main goal of the workshop was to motivate entrepreneurs to set up a pine needle based industry. Centre for Innovative Technology for the Himalayan Region at the Institute is funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.

In the workshop, under the guidance of Prof. Arti Kashyap, Principle Investigator and Associate Professor, IIT Mandi, the procedure involved in dry pine needle briquetting was explained in detail. A demonstration and hands-on training of the set-up was also given at the Centre for Uplifting Himalayan Livelihood (UHL) so that the participants could easily understand how the machine works. Mr. Pavan Tiwari, Project Engineer; Mr. Rakesh Arya, Project Assistant; and Ms. Pooja Thakur, Project Assistant, were also present at the workshop.

The Government of Himachal Pradesh has announced a subsidy of 50%, up to 25 lakh, for one unit, on capital expenses for pine needle based plants. This assistance can be obtained by giving a letter in the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO). Till date, 21 applications are stated to have been received by the Forest Department to setup pine needle based industry.