The project has set up a production plant in Tepar village, Panarsa, Mandi district, with the goal of turning pine needles into briquettes that may be used as biofuel 

 In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, the Ashray Foundation and Canara HSBC Life Insurance’s Project Cheer-Urja have started producing green energy in Himachal Pradesh, India. The project has set up a production plant in Tepar village, Panarsa, Mandi district, with the goal of turning pine needles into briquettes that may be used as biofuel. This is a big step forward for the area’s search for renewable energy sources.

A wide range of stakeholders were present for the production plant’s opening, including local youth, members of Gramme Panchayats, District Forest Officers, Canara Bank officials, and women from Self Help Groups. By utilising pine needles’ potential, this group participation highlights the project’s collaborative nature and addresses social and environmental issues.

The foundation of Project Cheer-Urja is the self-help groups and women in the community, who are positioned as important drivers of long-term change. ‘Cheer-Urja’ becomes more than just an initiative—rather, it’s a pledge to a more sustainable and empowered future—through participation in decision-making processes and training on environmentally friendly product development.

The production unit can produce 4 tonnes of briquettes in 8 hours with the help of IIT Mandi’s technical expertise, which has a good environmental impact. The project takes a comprehensive strategy, including youth engagement, financial literacy promotion, and self-help group capacity building, making it a model of sustainable community development.

“The ‘Cheer-Urja’ project represents a transformative approach towards providing local livelihoods through pine needle collection and skill enhancement,” said  Kiran Yadav, Chief People Officer, in her remarks about the collaboration. Our goal in turning pine needles into clean biofuel is to protect natural resources, ensure biodiversity preservation, and maintain a sustainable climate in addition to averting forest fires.”

 Jenisha Dharani, Director of Programmes at Ashray Foundation, echoed this feeling when she stressed the shared commitment to Himachal Pradesh’s growth and environmental protection. “Cheer-Urja” is a living example of the power of community involvement and long-term fixes, the speaker said. We are empowering women and generating long-term employment opportunities in the city by utilising the potential of pine needles, which are frequently regarded as garbage.”