Kutch, Jan 31, : The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has introduced a low cost windmill to help poor saltpan workers in Kutch.

NIF is a central government funded body, and its latest venture, is an association with the Gujarat Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network (GIAN).

The windmill has been installed at Kuda village in Surendranagar District in the Little Rann of Kutch. The people are happy about this.

Design developer and a member of GIAN, Dinesh Sanghvi, claimed that this low cost windmill does not require any maintenance and will get more water in comparison to any other equipment.

"The windmill which we have designed and brought here is a really low cost solution for the salt workers. The installation is very simple and it doesn''t require any maintenance. The wind velocity situation is so good here in the desert area and wind will continue operating all the time and will get lot of water compared to the other operators they are using today," said Sanghvi.

"Interrupted and limited power supply for irrigation is a major problem in the area. The saltpan workers traditionally use diesel engine to lift water from the tube well or open well, which ultimately increases the production cost," he added.

Saltpan workers are happy with the new option, which they say will reduce expenses by 50 percent.

An appropriate angle has been given to the blades so that higher wind power can be harnessed and water can be pumped from greater depth.

The simple mechanism will help the farmers to install and dismantle the windmill as per their requirements, said Kaushik Chaudhary, the designer and manufacturer of the windmill. (ANI)