A smokeless stove fuelled by biomass pellets that converts into heat replacing LPG gas cylinders was introduced in Assam today.
Demonstrating the functioning of the stove, Monmi Das, Director of Blue Bird Express promoting the stove in the Northeast, said the environment-friendly stove would replace the toxic effects of traditional open-fire stoves.
"Our attempt is to offer an alternative to the traditional stoves with a more efficient one which uses local, stable materials", Das said.
The pellet fuels are made from compressed organic matter or biomass, including industrial waste and co-products, food waste, agricultural residues, energy crops and virgin lumber, she informed.
She said the pellets cost Rs 22 per kg while a 14.2 kg non-subsidised domestic gas cylinder cost Rs 48 per kg and a 19 kg non-subsidised commercial gas cylinder cost Rs 95 per kg.
On the pellet producing plant coming up near Guwahati, the cost of the pellets would be Rs 8 per kg as in Gujarat where they are produced and now transported to Assam, Das added.
The metal cylinderical stove is fitted with a slotted rack on the top for holding the pellets and another tray below for additional pellets for uninterrupted cooking and a blower fan below, she said.
The blower is operated by an AC/DC adapter that can be charged electrically or by solar energy and is fitted to a knob in the stove to control the flame.
The smallest size of the stove that can cook for five to six people cost Rs 2000, Das said.
