SHIMLA-7^th August, 2025

CM launches India's first State supported Biochar programme

• Biochar plant to be set up at Neri within six months: CM
• Tripartite agreement signed in presence of Chief Minister at Shimla

India’s first State-supported Biochar programme will commence in Himachal Pradesh, with a biochar plant to be established at Neri in Hamirpur district within six months. A tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in this regard was signed today at Oak Over, Shimla, in the presence of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, between Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, and ProClime Services Private Limited, Chennai. The Chief Minister said, “This project was a step towards environmental conservation through intelligent mitigating forest fires, while also enhancing livelihood opportunities and awareness among communities.”

The collaboration aims to produce biochar by utilizing biomass such as pine needles, lantana, bamboo, and other tree-based material. Sh. Sukhu directed that the MoA be implemented within six months to benefit the people of Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Chamba, Bilaspur, and Solan districts, particularly areas with abundant pine forests. The initiative will not only create employment opportunities but also help the State to secure carbon credits. ProClime, through the Forest Department, will engage local communities in sustainable biomass collection and the participants will be paid Rs 2.50 per kg of biomass collected, with performance-based incentives for maintaining quality and quantity.

The programme is expected to generate nearly 50,000 person-days of income annually through biomass collection, along with direct employment in plant operations. Skill development programmes will also be organised in partnership with the university on safe collection practices, biochar applications in agriculture, and climate change mitigation. Over its 10-year operational period, the project is expected to generate about 28,800 carbon credits, giving a boost to Himachal Pradesh’s green initiatives.

Under the tripartite agreement, a collaborative framework has been established to mitigate forest fires, eradicate invasive species such as lantana, and ensure the sustainable use of pine needles, bamboo and other biomass residues for the production of biochar through pyrolysis technology. The initiative will enhance soil health, promote carbon sequestration, generate and monetize carbon credits under international standards, and create local livelihood opportunities through biomass collection and skill development. ProClime Services Pvt. Ltd. will invest up to one million US dollars in phased implementation of the project.

The Forest Department will coordinate and monitor sustainable biomass collection with community involvement, provide necessary permits and concessions, and ensure compliance with forest and environmental regulations. The University will provide about three acres of land at Neri, Hamirpur, for the plant and storage facilities, support necessary approvals, and undertake research on biochar applications in agriculture.

Biochar, derived from forest and farm-based biomass, has wide applications in agriculture, metallurgy, and other industries. ProClime Services Pvt. Ltd., specializing in biochar production, carbon credit generation, and climate mitigation projects, intends to make the necessary capital investment to set up and operate the project.

MLA Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary KK Pant, PCCF (HoFF) Sanjay Sood, Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. Rajeshwar Thakur and the representatives of the ProClime company were present.

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Chief Secretary reviews relief and restoration works in flood affected areas

Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena presided over a high level meeting to assess the current situation in the flood-affected areas of the state and the ongoing relief and rehabilitation works with concerned administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners and officers of the stakeholder departments.

He said that heavy rains and flash flood had affected several parts of the state which triggered landslides and disrupted normal life in many districts of the state. The work of relief and restoration work in disaster affected areas were going on war footing so that normalcy could be restored as soon as possible to give relief to the people. He said that the all the people stranded in Manimahesh in Chamba district have been evacuated.

In the meeting, the Chief Secretary took stock of the situation from the Deputy Commissioners of the flood-affected districts virtually and asked about the assistance they need. He directed stakeholder departments to take appropriate action for restoration of essential services like roads, water, electricity, telephone supply at the earliest.

Additional Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Secretary Public Works Abhishek Jain, Secretary Education Rakesh Kanwar, Director-cum-Special Secretary, Revenue-Disaster Management DC Rana, Deputy Commissioners of different districts and officers of different stakeholder departments were also present in the meeting.