Pine way to make money!

Among the most enduring images of the hilly regions in northern India are pine trees that cover the undulating landscape. There are other trees in the area including the deodhar and the silver oak, but pine dominates.

Called cheed in the local language, pine trees are the bane of the area. The trees soak up moisture in the soil much like the eucalyptus, thus preventing other trees from growing around them. They are responsible to a great extent for the water shortage in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand.

Called pirul in the local language, pine needles form a thick carpet on the forest floor. When the needles fall on the ground, they form a kind of thick rubbery carpet, which prevents seeds from other plants to reach the soil and take root. The tree is a ‘coloniser’ attacking other varieties and plant life in the region. Millions of blade-like leaves, which fall from the trees in summer, often trigger forest fires.

Making the most of ‘pirul’

The forest and the natural processes have a regenerative quality inbuilt in them. Mostly it is nature itself, which plays that role. Sometimes, human beings see the opportunity to not only derive benefit for themselves, but to actually give back to nature. This is the scenario in some parts of Uttarakhand. An innovative project called the ‘Gramya’ scheme chalked out by the state government is being implemented by an NGO based in Pithoragarh, Himalaya Study Centre across pine country including Nainital, Pithoragarh, Champawat and Bageshwar in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. This involves a training scheme for locals to convert the abundant pirul or pine needles into coal, which can be used as fuel by local communities. Of course, it does not have the traditional properties of coal mined from the depths of the earth, but it comes close. Most important is that the product can be used as an alternate fuel.  

The actual process of making pirul coal is surprisingly uncomplicated. The pine needles are first burnt in a drum of particular specifications. The pirul is burnt to a cinder and transformed into ash. Interestingly, even at this early stage, it begins to resemble charcoal. This is then mixed with cow dung, which is also prepared as a mixture. The two are then mixed together with a proportion of 1:10, the higher proportion being the charcoal content. It is then put in a specially made moulding machine to make the new-formula coal. Allowed to settle, it does not have the hardness of coal, yet is not soft enough to crumble. It can be handled easily as large granules or small bricks. 

The programme imparts training to several local groups, many of them women who otherwise used to scour the forests for these dry pirul to be used as fuel directly. Now they are saved from the drudgery. These groups eventually become productive units with access not only to the technical know-how but also to the machinery used in the process. This whole exercise has led to the mushrooming of a cottage industry in the hills enabling locals to earn a livelihood. What enthuses the women is that this new coal is virtually smokeless. It also produces very little ash. If used in a specialised stove, one kilogram can last for 90 minutes.

M H Khan, Director of ‘Gramya’, is enthusiastic about this novel concept especially because of its double benefit, of creating livelihoods and conserving resources. Locals agree and also say that pirul leaves take a long time to rot contributing very little or very slowly to the regeneration of the soil. Studies show that during the process of the leaves decomposing, harmful phytotoxic chemicals are released into the soil. Hema Dobriyal, who motivated many others in Chamauli village of Garhwal Mandal says, “Now there is a smoke-free atmosphere in our village and women are playing an important role in preserving natural resources.”

Huge potential

This is a resounding theme across the region. According to Pooja Mehta, social activist from Gangoli Haat unit, “Today, pirul leaves, which were considered useless are used to create livelihood opportunities. Villagers collect it and sell it in the village and local markets.” Bhagat Singh of Gangoli Haat has taken it one step further. He has commercially developed coal making and runs it like an industry. The returns have been handsome and last year, he earned Rs 10,000. The new-found coal is being used in homes and hotels for cooking. In fact, it is widely used by dhobis who have set up shacks to iron clothes! 

The success of the initiative is widespread. Rajesh Pandey of Almora district actually changed his line of work. Sensing the potential of this nascent industry, he gave up his small shop and decided to take up coal making. After getting trained, he bought a machine. It was a wise decision and Pandey rode to prosperity on a wave of increased demand for pirul coal.

Others like Ramdat Belwal of Almora district turned to this business giving up farming from which he could not earn enough to last for the year.

Today, he is glad he made the switch. He produces four-five tonnes of coal per month, which finds a ready market giving him a monthly income of Rs 3,000-4,000. This is however restricted to summer. The industry has to expand to ensure that entrepreneurs like Belwal stay in business and in the bargain promote this alternative fuel. 

This small initiative is creating valuable alternative fuel from a waste product that can actually be detrimental if not attended to. Such holistic solutions address not only issues of rural livelihoods, but also contribute to a growing industry and in the process conserve the earth’s resources. 

 Charkha Features