Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 17:

A study conducted at Bishankunarayan village development committee revealed that the notorious weed banmara (Eupatorium adeno-phorum Spreng) can be used for producing coal thereby making it a source of alternative energy.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Martin Chautari, Rohini Prasad Devkota, a researcher with the National Development Research Institute (NDRI), said 30 kg of coal can be produced from 60 kg of banmara.

The claim was made after an NDRI research for six months.

“We provided training to locals on producing coal from banmara. Twenty-three women were provided training and they are now competent in producing coal and making money out of the shrub,” he said.

Twenty-seven families are pursuing the business and eking out living from this business.

“Hotels, restaurants and hospitals are the customers of the coal produced in Bishankunarayan,” Devkota said.

According to him, coal can also be used as a decorative object at the household level. Devkota added that as the coal is learnt to have air purifying properties and can be used for pollution control.