In a 1st, U’khand to turn mule dung into fuel pellets in Kedarnath

Dehradun: Uttarakhand govt is set to launch a pilot project to convert mule dung collected along the Kedarnath trek route into eco-friendly biomass fuel pellets. The initiative, which officials describe as a first-of-its-kind in the country, will involve setting up a processing plant at Jakholi in Rudraprayag district and is expected to become operational next week.With nearly 8,000 ponies plying the Kedarnath route and generating an estimated 40,000 kg of dung daily, officials said the pellets will be produced by blending the mule dung with pine needles in a 50:50 ratio. The year-long project has been allocated an initial budget of Rs 1.25 crore and will be executed with the support of self-help groups. If successful, the tourism department plans to hand over operations to the nagar palika from the second year onwards and introduce the scheme in other pilgrimage routes, including Yamunotri.Tourism secretary Dhiraaj Singh Garbyal said the project aims to address multiple problems. “Pilgrims will have cleaner, less slippery trek paths; hotel and dhaba owners will get fuel pellets as an alternative energy source; and local communities who collect pine needles — already receiving Rs 10 per kg from the forest department — will get an additional Rs 2 per kg under the new scheme,” he told TOI.The initiative also addresses environmental concerns repeatedly flagged by the National Green Tribunal over unmanaged dumping of equine waste along Kedarnath and other pilgrimage routes.Garbyal added that eatery joints on the route would be identified and stoves would be provided to them. “The fuel pellets will be an alternative for LPG cylinders. The dung of mule is not suitable for making manure, therefore, we came up with the idea of fuel pellets. The project will also play an important role in checking forest fires by reducing the spread of dry pine needles,” he said.He further said that a similar plant to make manure was set up in Naini Danda area of Pauri district. “The work is being operated through self-help groups, which have been earning almost Rs 2.5 crore annually,” he added.