WWinds of communal harmony are blowing through the corridors of innovation . Two Muslim brothers from Assam are sharing their successful invention of a lowcost windmill to lift groundwater with Gujarat farmers. Mohammed Mehtar Hussain (38) and Mushtaq Ahmad (28), residents of Darrang in Assam, have invented a low-cost alternative to pump water in fields - a simple windmill made of bamboo and tin sheets.
They were invited by Grass - roots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN) to set up their windmill in Little Rann of Kutch. “We have installed two windmills in Boda village to lift groundwater for salt pans. The experiment has been quite successful . The windmill draws 3,000 litres of water an hour at wind speed of 15 km/hr. If we get an average wind speed for at least 15 hours a day, we would get about 45,000 litres of water,” says Mahesh Patel, coordinator of GIAN.
The bamboo version has been modified to a metallic one that will change direction with changes in wind direction. A simple mechanism has been used to make the windmill multi-directional .
Blades have been given the appropriate angle so that higher wind power can be harnessed and water can be pumped from greater depth. Aluminium blades have been reinforced with wires. The cost of manufacturing a static model made of bamboo/eucalyptus is around Rs 15,000 while the multi-direction model will cost Rs 25,000, which is half the cost of a conventional windmill.
While Mehtar Hussain has installed seven units in the Northeast, GIAN plans to install 100 windmills in different villages in the state. “It’s an environment-friendly invention with low initial cost and zero operating cost. Also, it’s one of the best examples of technology transfer at grassroots level from one state to another,” says Professor Anil Gupta of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A ).
Says Patel, “The average requirement of water for a salt pan worker is about 80,000 litres. Two windmills can fulfil this requirement. Because of high crude prices, salt pan workers fall into debt trap. This windmill will be a good option for them.”
A windmill has also been installed at Kalawad village in Junagadh district to lift water from a well. Here, it moves continuously as the site receives wind with sufficient velocity all the time.
“We are recording observations of wind speed and water discharge at regular intervals . Farmers from surrounding areas have appreciated the design and are keen to install the windmill on their farms,” Patel adds.
The Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, had done a technical analysis and a feasibility study of the invention in March 2007. The report had made recommendations to improve the performance of the model.
They were invited by Grass - roots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN) to set up their windmill in Little Rann of Kutch. “We have installed two windmills in Boda village to lift groundwater for salt pans. The experiment has been quite successful . The windmill draws 3,000 litres of water an hour at wind speed of 15 km/hr. If we get an average wind speed for at least 15 hours a day, we would get about 45,000 litres of water,” says Mahesh Patel, coordinator of GIAN.
The bamboo version has been modified to a metallic one that will change direction with changes in wind direction. A simple mechanism has been used to make the windmill multi-directional .
Blades have been given the appropriate angle so that higher wind power can be harnessed and water can be pumped from greater depth. Aluminium blades have been reinforced with wires. The cost of manufacturing a static model made of bamboo/eucalyptus is around Rs 15,000 while the multi-direction model will cost Rs 25,000, which is half the cost of a conventional windmill.
While Mehtar Hussain has installed seven units in the Northeast, GIAN plans to install 100 windmills in different villages in the state. “It’s an environment-friendly invention with low initial cost and zero operating cost. Also, it’s one of the best examples of technology transfer at grassroots level from one state to another,” says Professor Anil Gupta of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A ).
Says Patel, “The average requirement of water for a salt pan worker is about 80,000 litres. Two windmills can fulfil this requirement. Because of high crude prices, salt pan workers fall into debt trap. This windmill will be a good option for them.”
A windmill has also been installed at Kalawad village in Junagadh district to lift water from a well. Here, it moves continuously as the site receives wind with sufficient velocity all the time.
“We are recording observations of wind speed and water discharge at regular intervals . Farmers from surrounding areas have appreciated the design and are keen to install the windmill on their farms,” Patel adds.
The Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, had done a technical analysis and a feasibility study of the invention in March 2007. The report had made recommendations to improve the performance of the model.
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