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Keep on extracting Resin
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The J&K Govt. has decided to reduce the extraction of Oleo Pine Resin by 20 percent each year bringing down the yield of Oleo Pine Resin to nil within five years. It has been claimed that this decision by the State Govt. had been taken with a view to safeguard the growth of Forest in the State.
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. }: a. j1 _: S4 E4 m. v) xAs a scientist with long experience of working in R&D in this field at National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, I take it obligatory on my part to draw the attention of all concerned through the esteemed columns of Excelsior. J&K State has large number of blazes (tapable pine trees) all over the borders of the State and to one time state started to tap and collect about 35000 to 40000 Tons of Oleo Pine Resin per annum, but at present the production has been brought down to about 10,000 tons per annum. Oleo Pine Resin in a host of chemicals and numerous downstream products like Camphor, Pine Oil, Terpenes, Estergums and various Resins are being manufactured from it. These items have wide applications in the field of paper, soap, pharmaceuticals, perfumery, adhesives, paints, varnishes and many others. Presently our country is importing Rosin, Turpentine and Pinenes to make up for the deficit in the country.( O% H/ `1 I1 y6 e: H
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There is a misconcept that extraction of Oleo Pine Resin from pine tree reduces the life of the tree or causes its death. As a scientist, I would like to emphasize the fact that if the extraction of Oleo Pine Resin is done from bosom of the trees by specially trained workers using scientific methods and modern techniques it is not supposed to either reduce the life of trees or bring any ill effects on the trees.
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The pine tree growing countries like China, Indonesia, Brazil, Cuba and Vietnam are increasing their production of OPR every years. However, those countries are adopting scientific methods for growth of the pine forests every year. Similarly, if the J&K Pine forests also go under planning for the growth as well as extraction of Resin by most modern methods like RIL, I feel that there is no need to stop the extraction of Oleo Pine Resin which is considered to be a gift from the nature for the benefit of the mankind. If the production is closed down, it will effect not only the industrial units based on processing of OPR, Resin & Turpentine, but it will also effect the revenue of the State Govt. as well as its employment situation. The planning of the schools for training to the workers and employing such workers in the forest for putting up the axe rightly on the trunk, it will increase the employment and at the same time safequard the forests wealth. State Govt. is suffering very hard for want of the revenue as well as low employment situation.% X: j) W+ d3 S+ T/ y( n Y" Z8 @
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It is learnt that presently state forest deptt. is employing contractors who give sub-contracts to the labour to extract the Resin. Most of workers remain unskilled & ignorant about using the axe rightly on the tree. Naturally the nerves of the trees and damaged, ultimately bringing death blow to the tree. The cost of collection of Oleo Pine Resin through the contractor might be about 6-7 Rs. per Kg. to the forest dept. But, in case schools are organized for training of the workers for tapping and collection of Oleo Pine Resin from the tree, naturally the cost will increase to the extent of 8-10 Rs. per Kg. However, the average Oleo Pine Resin is sold in open market in auctions at about 20-22 Rs. Per Kg. Therefore, there is a very good margin in the cost and that will still give 100 percent benefit to the forest deptt. for doing the job. Countries like Vietnam, Cuba, Indonesia and Srilanka have come up for extraction and utilization of Oleo Pine Resin under the guidance of our Indian People. This industry right from extraction and collection of Oleo Pine Resin to the production of finished goods is a labour oriented industry and most of our units are in rural areas working without aid of power and employing large number of hands. In view of such advantageous circumstances State Govt. is requested to reconsider the whole situation to keep extraction of Oleo Pine Resin going on. However, the extraction procedure is necessarily to be organized gradually under scientific methods so that our forest wealth is not effected whereas replanting of the trees should also go on, simultaneously.
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