Kolkata: WBPCB on Thursday kickstarted the pilot run of smokeless chullah at Ghorasa village in Purulia. The specially designed chullah which despite the use of conventional fuel like coal, wood, and dry leaves, will cut 70-90% pollution. The Energy & Resource Institute (TERI) is monitoring the ambient and indoor air quality before and during the pilot run being held across the four other villages in Jhargram, Bankura, West Burdwan, Sundarbans, and one urban slum in Kolkata.
The four villages include Tiakati in Jhargram, Pururndi in Bankura, Jamgram in Paschim Burdwan and Bijaynagar in Sundarbans. Bijaynagar has been chosen as the reference site for its pristine environment. One urban slum in Kolkata, which the KMC is expected to chose, will also be under this study. “Each village for the pilot run is adopted by one academic institute like colleges and universities to ensure that each household uses this improved chullah for all kind of heating and cooking. Ghorasa village in Purulia is adopted by Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University,” said WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra.