KATRA, Jan 24:The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Katra today under which the CSIR-CIMAP will provide free consultancy, technical support and guidance to the Board for making agarbattis from flower waste. Under the project, a small infrastructure facility will be created for making the incense sticks. The used flowers will be collected from the temples, petals segregated from stems, washed, dried, grinded and rolled to make the incense sticks.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board and Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Deuri, Controller of Administration, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. Dr. Alok Kalra, former Director, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow; Mr. R. K. Srivastava, Senior Scientist and Head, Rural Development, CSIR-CIMAP; Dr. Sunil Sharma and Mr. Deepak Dubey, Dy. Chief Executive Officers of the Shrine Board; Mr. Manu Hansa, Assistant CEO; Mr. Vinay Khajuria, ACF; and Ms. Priya Khajuria, Assistant Manager were present on the occasion.
While lauding the CSIR-CIMAP for coming forward to help the Board in converting floral waste into fragrant incense sticks, the CEO said that signing of the MoU between CSIR-CIMAP and the Shrine Board is a significant step towards productive and environment friendly utilisation of flower waste. He suggested the visiting team of scientists of CSIR-CIMAP to suggest the species of aromatic, ornamental and flower plants as well as creepers which could be planted on the track leading to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji to further enhance the ambience for the pilgrims moving on the track. The visiting scientists readily agreed to the suggestion of the CEO of the Shrine Board to support the Board in the selection of such species.
A day-long “Training-cum-Workshop on agarbatti making from used flowers” was also organised at the Spiritual Growth Centre at Katra today in which 20 female employees of the Board participated. The workshop was organised by the Shrine Board in collaboration with CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow. The objective of the workshop was to impart skill and building capacities to prudently utilise the flower waste in the Shrine area to obtain useful products like incense sticks.
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