“Lifecycle of the eucalyptus tree is in between 3-5 years depending upon the variety of saplings. We have been continually planting new plants after each cycle,” says Mr. Rajneesh Oswal, Chairman & Managing Director, Shreyans Industries Ltd.
Shreyans Industries Ltd. has two paper manufacturing units located at Ahmedgarh and Banah in Punjab. Incorporated in 1979, the agro-based paper mill utilises a wide mix of raw materials including – wheat straw, a sugarcane residue, and sarkanda. Currently, the combined capacity for the manufacture of writing and printing paper stands at 94,000 MTPA. Back in 1992, the company had proposed to plant more than 50,000 trees. Today, Shreyans Industries has covered more than 200 acres of land in both the units for utilisation of treated effluent water for the plantation of Eucalyptus trees. In an interview with Paper Mart, Mr. Rajneesh Oswal, Chairman & Managing Director, Shreyans Industries Ltd. talks in detail about the trees grown and the technology used.
Paper Mart: How much area is covered under plantation by you?
Rajneesh Oswal: We have around 100 acres of land both inside and outside of mill premises where we have planted eucalyptus trees as per the Karnal Technology which is irrigated with our treated wastewater.
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PM: Tell us about the hardwood and softwood trees grown by the mill.
RO: We are cultivating eucalyptus trees (hardwood) irrigated with our own treated wastewater. However, the plantations are not for our own use as our paper mill is an agro-based mill using raw materials like – wheat straw, sarkanda, and bagasse. We buy the raw material directly from the farmers/sugar mills.
PM: Have you been able to improve the productivity of degraded lands, control soil erosion, and push moisture conservation through the plantation?
RO: In Karnal Technology, the plantation is done on the leveled field. In this way, the treated wastewater is always present in the furrows which helps retain the moisture in the soil.
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PM: What is your company’s future target?
RO: The lifecycle of the eucalyptus tree is in between 3-5 years depending upon the variety of saplings. We have been continually planting new plants after each cycle.
