Uttarakhand Pilot Turns Mule Dung, Pine Needles Into Fire Pellets for Kedarnath Route
A pilot unit at Sonprayag is converting mule dung and pine needles into biomass fire pellets to fuel hot water for pilgrims and cut LPG use along the Kedarnath route.
Current Summary
Uttarakhand has set up a unit at Sonprayag that manufactures biomass fire pellets from a mixture of mule dung and pine needles, locally called pirul, aiming to address waste disposal from the thousands of mules used on the Kedarnath pilgrimage route each season. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra inspected the unit on Wednesday and reviewed its functioning. Officials said the unit is not yet capable of large-scale production but that initial results have been encouraging. The pellets are intended to run a hot-water generator at Kedarnath that supplies free hot water to pilgrims round the clock, and to fuel stoves at roadside eateries to reduce their dependence on LPG and diesel. The pellets are being promoted as a carbon-neutral biomass fuel with potential future use in industrial furnaces in the state. The project has been set up by NGO HIFEED with support from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, the Rudraprayag district administration, the Chief Veterinary Officer's office and the Forest Department. HIFEED director Udit Ghyaldiyal said the manufacturing unit was established at Sonprayag as part of the initiative.
What We Know
- The unit at Sonprayag makes biomass fire pellets from mule dung and pine needles (pirul).
- Rudraprayag DM Vishal Mishra inspected the unit on Wednesday.
- The unit is not yet capable of large-scale production, though initial results have been encouraging.
- Pellets will fuel a hot-water generator at Kedarnath supplying pilgrims, and stoves at roadside eateries to cut LPG and diesel use.
- The project was set up by NGO HIFEED, whose director is Udit Ghyaldiyal, with support from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, Rudraprayag district administration, the Chief Veterinary Officer's office and the Forest Department.
What Is Still Unclear
- Timeline and investment required to scale the unit to large-scale production.
- Volume of pellets currently being produced.
What Changed
- 11 Nov, 10:11 pmSignal detected: Uttarakhand Pilot Turns Mule Dung, Pine Needles Into Fire Pellets for Kedarnath Route