ALAPPUZHA: While housewives are buying gas cylinders by giving more than Rs 900, Muhamma native Preethi is busy cooking using the gas made from moss from the lake. Preethi now prays that panchayats do not sweep away the African moss and water hyacinths in the water bodies near her home.

Many people who set up a biogas plant often turn to gas cylinders since bio-waste is not enough. Preethi too did the same. That was when the dilapidated biogas plant caught the attention of local and businessman G Anuroop. Anuroop advised her to use moss along with the vegetable waste in the house as raw materials for biogas production. When tested, she got high-quality gas. The gas burns with a blue flame similar to that of LPG gas. Normal biogas burns with red and yellow flames. Preethi now has plenty of 'moss gas' to prepare dishes for a family that includes a husband, mother, and two children.

The idea
The discovery of Dr. G Nagendraprabhu that you can make value-added products from water hyacinth, made Anuroop, an alumnus and a participant in social initiatives, think about producing gas from moss. Anuroop is advising other households in the area to set up the plant.

Plant price

Rs 11000 / - per 500 litre plant

Rs 17,000: Concealed model. There is a government subsidy.