Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Windmills from Assam spin success in state
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.
Manipur opts for NH-53
Imphal, Aug 26 : With hundreds of goods laden truck bound for Imphal stranded near Kohima on NH-39 following heavy landslides at Zubza, the State Government has decided to lift essential commodities including rice, sugar and fuel from the FCI godown at Silchar and transport the same through NH-53 on the ImphalJiribam route.
On the other hand the State Government has asked the authority of the IOC to make sure that fuel is available to the people at the petrol pumps from tomorrow.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source said that following the heavy landslide in neighbouring Nagaland and with hundreds of goods laden trucks stranded on the way, the rice and fuel stock is running low in the State.
It is to make up for the shortage of the essential commodities that the Government has decided to transport the essential commodities through NH-53, explained the source.
To lift the essential commodities from the godown at Silchar, FCI authority has deputed its trucks for the said purpose, said the source and added that at the moment, the stock of PDS rice in the State is 60,000 quintal.
The State Government has also asked the IOC authority to make sure that fuel is available to the people through the oil pumps without any hindrances from tomorrow.
There will be no bar on the quantity of fuel that a vehicle owner may want, said the source but added that the police has been instructed not to let anyone buy fuel in large quantity in jerry cans.
Two FCS Inspectors have also been deployed to check how many tankers have arrived in the State, how many tankers have unloaded their fuel at the Oil Depot and at the petrol pumps as well as to study whether the fuel have been spiked or not, added the source further.
Following the landslides near Kohima the petrol pumps in Imphal have been closed for most of the time.
Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima SA Sachopra Vero has sent a message to the State FCS Commissioner S Buddhachandra to inform the people concerned not to carry more than 14/15 tonnes of goods to Manipur through NH-39 until the condition of the highway improves.
Trucks loaded with more than 14/15 tonnes are facing a lot of difficulties in passing through the sunken zones due to the landslides.
A number of stranded trucks including 51 tankers and 23 goods laden trucks including two trucks carrying fertilisers have reached Imphal.
On the other hand anticipating that trucks carrying fertilisers may be heading towards Imphal a large number of farmers from Lamshang and Sekmai thronged Sekmai post today from early morning to check if any of the trucks were carrying fertilisers.
The farmers explained that they were constrained to check the incoming trucks as they are badly in need of fertilisers and they do not want it to fall into the wrong hands.
Farmers thronging the Sekmai post to intercept fertilisers truck
On hearing that the farmers were checking vehicles at Sekmai, Assistant Fertiliser Officer Ksh Gopen accompanied by his staff rushed to Sekmai to talk to the farmers.
By the time the official team reached Sekmai the farmers had dispersed and the Agriculture officer asked the OC of Sekmai police not to let the farmers disrupt the flow of trucks carrying fertilisers, said a source.
On the other hand the State Government has asked the authority of the IOC to make sure that fuel is available to the people at the petrol pumps from tomorrow.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source said that following the heavy landslide in neighbouring Nagaland and with hundreds of goods laden trucks stranded on the way, the rice and fuel stock is running low in the State.
It is to make up for the shortage of the essential commodities that the Government has decided to transport the essential commodities through NH-53, explained the source.
To lift the essential commodities from the godown at Silchar, FCI authority has deputed its trucks for the said purpose, said the source and added that at the moment, the stock of PDS rice in the State is 60,000 quintal.
The State Government has also asked the IOC authority to make sure that fuel is available to the people through the oil pumps without any hindrances from tomorrow.
There will be no bar on the quantity of fuel that a vehicle owner may want, said the source but added that the police has been instructed not to let anyone buy fuel in large quantity in jerry cans.
Two FCS Inspectors have also been deployed to check how many tankers have arrived in the State, how many tankers have unloaded their fuel at the Oil Depot and at the petrol pumps as well as to study whether the fuel have been spiked or not, added the source further.
Following the landslides near Kohima the petrol pumps in Imphal have been closed for most of the time.
Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima SA Sachopra Vero has sent a message to the State FCS Commissioner S Buddhachandra to inform the people concerned not to carry more than 14/15 tonnes of goods to Manipur through NH-39 until the condition of the highway improves.
Trucks loaded with more than 14/15 tonnes are facing a lot of difficulties in passing through the sunken zones due to the landslides.
A number of stranded trucks including 51 tankers and 23 goods laden trucks including two trucks carrying fertilisers have reached Imphal.
On the other hand anticipating that trucks carrying fertilisers may be heading towards Imphal a large number of farmers from Lamshang and Sekmai thronged Sekmai post today from early morning to check if any of the trucks were carrying fertilisers.
The farmers explained that they were constrained to check the incoming trucks as they are badly in need of fertilisers and they do not want it to fall into the wrong hands.
Farmers thronging the Sekmai post to intercept fertilisers truck
On hearing that the farmers were checking vehicles at Sekmai, Assistant Fertiliser Officer Ksh Gopen accompanied by his staff rushed to Sekmai to talk to the farmers.
By the time the official team reached Sekmai the farmers had dispersed and the Agriculture officer asked the OC of Sekmai police not to let the farmers disrupt the flow of trucks carrying fertilisers, said a source.
3678 villages in Northeast remain beyond tele-network
Agartala, Aug 26 : Altogether 3678 villages of Northeast are still remain uncovered from telecommunication network even after four years of merger agreement between Department of Telecommunication and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to connect all the remote villages with tele-link.
According to a document, 8931 villages in Assam, 1957 in Meghalaya, 876 in Manipur, 646 in Arunachal Pradesh, 96 in Mizoram, 75 in Tripura and 28 in Nagaland have not been connected with telecommunication network.
Talking to UNI here Tripura’s Information Technology minister Tapan Chakraborty said following sustain pressure from Northeast, the Union government had decided to provide Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in about 54700 uncovered villages under Bharat Nirman Programme through subsidy support from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
The latest decision of the state owned BSNL, it would provide telephones to five and half lakh villages across the country and the telecom giant has also brought 30,500 villages under the reach of Broadband.
The scheme covers all villages except those having population of less than 100, those lying in deep forests and those affected with insurgency, Mr Chakraborty said and added that it would carry out under agreements signed by DOT with BSNL in November 2004. Provision of VPTs is included as one of activities under the Centre’s Bharat Nirman Programme.
About 5000 remote villages would be provided with VPT using satellite technology- Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs), which were initially proposed to be provided on DSPTs, would be delivered through the wireless coverage now available in these villages on account of network expansion.
According to a document, 8931 villages in Assam, 1957 in Meghalaya, 876 in Manipur, 646 in Arunachal Pradesh, 96 in Mizoram, 75 in Tripura and 28 in Nagaland have not been connected with telecommunication network.
Talking to UNI here Tripura’s Information Technology minister Tapan Chakraborty said following sustain pressure from Northeast, the Union government had decided to provide Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in about 54700 uncovered villages under Bharat Nirman Programme through subsidy support from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
The latest decision of the state owned BSNL, it would provide telephones to five and half lakh villages across the country and the telecom giant has also brought 30,500 villages under the reach of Broadband.
The scheme covers all villages except those having population of less than 100, those lying in deep forests and those affected with insurgency, Mr Chakraborty said and added that it would carry out under agreements signed by DOT with BSNL in November 2004. Provision of VPTs is included as one of activities under the Centre’s Bharat Nirman Programme.
About 5000 remote villages would be provided with VPT using satellite technology- Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs), which were initially proposed to be provided on DSPTs, would be delivered through the wireless coverage now available in these villages on account of network expansion.
