Kohima, October 14 (MExN): Alayong village under Longleng district has become the first village in the state to have “Economic Earthen Chulha”. Alayong village is a rural hamlet having 167 household.
“Economic Earthen Chulha’ is made up of soil (Clay), sawdust/chopped star /Rice husk, bricks/boulder and water. The advantages of having “Economic Earthen Chlha” are eco-friendly, cheap and economic, easy to develop and hygienic, save fuel consumption by more than 50 %, calorific values of fuel is more, save coking time, require minimum space and reduce smoke when cooking. By adopting “Economic Earthen Chulha” global warming can be reduced to some extend.
On Wednesday, DC Longleng C. K. Nihekhu formally inaugurated and also released a handbook of “Economic Earthen Chulha” at Alayong village. In his address, DC Longleng lauded the DPO Longleng Menuosietuo Tseikha for taking the initiative in bringing out the “Economic Earthen Chulha,” which would benefit all the people. He also said that the people should take the advantage of earthen chulha, adding the main objective is not to save the firewood but to save the economy of the state. The DC also urged upon the Phom people to cooperate and support the concerned department in their endeavor to uplift the Longleng district at par with other districts. He also compared with the Chinese, Japanese and Singaporean people have hardly time to sit and eat, but where as the people in our state have become lazy sitting near warm fire and stated “Economic Earthen Chulha” was better.
In his key note address DPO Longleng Menuosietuo Tseikha said that study done by Department of Land Resources, District Project Officer (DPO) and his staffs of Longleng district in Alayong, Village, over one and half month, resulted in saving fuel wood more by 50 % and thus by adopting this method economic earthen chulha,. He said that if it is calculated the through out the state can, it save at least 0.4 million tones of fuel wood. This can save ` 53 crores annually. Pointing out that Longleng district have less forest cover because of the Jhum cultivation, he said that the department adopted Alayong village to study the economic earthen chulha , with the support of the village council and made compulsorily the whole village to used it and to find out the advantage.
Village Council Ex-chairman Imkochung said that earlier he and his wife used to carry two baskets (Khung) full of firewood while returning from field, where it was not sufficient for a night and with the introducing of Economic Earthen Chulha, atleast can saved one basket for selling and look after his livelihood. Earlier the function was chaired by Rosang ,WDTM, invocation prayer by Purtemsu, Pastor Alayong Baptist Church, welcome address by Yemni, Hd GB and vote of thanks by Imkonglemba, Alayong VCC.
