| Sanction Date: | 10.12.2025 | |||
| Project Category | Category I | |||
| Year | 2025-2026 | |||
| Project Duration | 3 Years | |||
| BTA : | HW | |||
| Project Site/ State/ Districts/ Villages Covered: |
Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Pahalgam (Baisaran valley, Betab valley), Gulmarag (Gondola, Golf Course) and Sonmarag (Thajiwas glacier), Kupwara district, Lolab valley |
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| Organization/ Implementation Agency: | National Institute of Technology, Srinagar Hazratbal, Srinagar -190006, Jammu & Kashmir | |||
| Project Partners: | S.No. | Name | ||
| 1. | NA | |||
| Lead Proponent: | Dr. Shrikant Shivaji Maktedar |
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| Project Brief Description: | In alignment with the UN’s 17 SDGs, this proposal adopts a Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) approach—integrating circular economy and bioeconomy principles—to replace petroleum-based plastics with renewable, locally available lignocellulosic Himalayan bio-waste, thereby reducing plastic pollution and safeguarding the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The project focuses on utilizing walnut shell waste (WSW), abundant in Kupwara district (J&K) under the ODOP scheme, for bioplastic production. Walnut shells, comprising 67% of total walnut weight and rich in lignin (53.5%), are low-cost, biodegradable waste generated in large quantities worldwide (~1.5 million tons annually). Converting this bio-waste into robust bioplastics addresses environmental challenges like microplastic contamination and climate change impacts, while promoting sustainable resource management. Given the limited processability of lignocellulosic biomass, effective pre-treatment methods—physical, chemical, physicochemical, or biological—will be employed to enhance its suitability for bioplastic manufacturing, opening new avenues in sustainable materials innovation. | |||
| Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders: |
• Rural population |
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| Activity Chart (For 3 years) | ||||
| Total Grants (in Rs.) | Rs.3,50,00,000/- (Rupees Three Crore Fifty Lakh Only) | |||
| Project Objectives | Quantifiable Deliverables | Monitoring Indicators |
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• Design, Development & Establishment of methodology for the production of Lignocellulosic/Biopolymeric bioplastic • Investigations of durability & stability through mechanical & thermal tests, respectively • Performance evaluation of as prepared bioplastics by using various methods. • Ensuring sustainability through degradability tests • Training manpower for real-time implementation. |
• Standardized methodology for producing bioplastic from lignocellulosic/biopolymeric Himalayan waste. • Prototype bioplastic samples • Performance evaluation report covering strength, flexibility, thermal stability, and application potential. • Training modules and hands-on capacity-building sessions for students, technicians, and local stakeholders. • Brief technical manual and SOPs for lab-to-field implementation. |
• Monitoring in comparison to the baseline information/ data to be provided by the proponent: • Quantity and types of biomass successfully converted into bioplastic. • Mechanical and thermal test outcomes against benchmark values. • Performance metrics (tensile strength, water resistance, thermal tolerance). • Degradation rate under controlled and natural conditions. • No. of trainees trained and training hours completed. • No. of research papers, technical reports, and policy documents published. |
| S.No. | No. of Sanctioned Post | Salary (Sanctioned) |
| 1. | 01 RA III | @ Rs.67,000/- + 20% HRA |
| 2. | 01 RA I | @ Rs.58,000/- + 20% HRA |
| 3. | 3 SPF | @ Rs.28,000/- 20% HRA |
| 4. | 03 JPF | @Rs.24,000/- 20% HRA |
| S.No. | Name of Equipment (Sanctioned) | Use of Equipment/ Details | Cost (in INR) |
| 1. | 01 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer@ 1 Cr, 01 Universal Testing Systems/ Microwave Synthesizer/ STA/ FTIR @Rs.40 Lakh, 01 Double beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer @Rs.12 Lakh, 03 All in one Desktop @Rs.1 Lakh per unit, 01 Laptop @Rs.1 Lakh, 01 each Colour Printer, Scanner and Black & White Printer @Rs.1 Lakh, 01 High Temperature Tube Furnace @Rs.20 Lakh, 01 Hot and Cold AC @Rs.1 Lakh. | 1,78,00,000 |
