Chir Coal – A Sustainable Life Goal
2 min read
On the World Environment Day – 05 June, 2023, the team of JUIT researchers (Dr. Sudhir Syal, Dr. Ashish Kumar, Anup Kumar Sinha) presented the coal prepared by them to local Corn Vendor on road side of Shimla Chandigarh Highway near Waknaghat. The team decided to test their technology of preparing coal from Pine needles (Chir in local language) involving actual users and needy vendors. Mahipal from Bareilly, U.P. – a corn vendor informed the team that he is purchasing coal worth Rs 50 per kg and it is a bottleneck in his livelihood. He used the coal prepared by JUIT team and rated its performance equivalent to hardwood coal purchased by him from the market. He was happy to know that this can be produced within a day using Pine needles and he can learn this technique from JUIT team. He also suggested possible ways for further improvement in its ignition and shape. The team decided to reach out more corn vendors in this season to contribute towards sustainable lifestyle. Pine needles are source of forest fire in HP and Uttarakhand, so using these as means of formation of coal can be boon for these small scale vendors. Dr. Sudhir was of the view that for any technology Simple System Works and the technological processes should be easy, cost-effective and doable by anyone. These activities are funded by Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development – of Jaypee Research Group under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. R.K. Sharma and jointly taken by departments of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Civil Engineering and Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Technologies for Rural Development.
