Date:28/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012859030800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Non-polluting and low-cost pest control

S. Harpal Singh

Ali Hifazat’s
lab-certified herbal lantern emanates a smoke that is safe for humans

ADILABAD: For the mosquito-tormented populace of Adilabad, Ali Hifazat’s herbal lantern is no less than the magic lantern of Aladdin from the ‘Arabian Nights’.

Peaceful sleep

Some of those who had purchased the mosquito repellent lantern swear they could sleep peacefully thanks to its non-polluting quality.

At Rs. 30 a piece with low maintenance cost, the lantern is an affordable commodity even for the poor. In fact, people from the lower income group are flocking by the dozens to the roadside lantern vends set up by Ashiq (Ali Hifazat’s well-known name).

Herbal formula

Ashiq, who belongs to Kamargaon in Vashim district of Maharashtra, hit upon the herbal formula in the course of experimentation.

“Having dropped out of education stream after completing SCC, I had hardly anything worthwhile to do. So, I started experimenting with different ‘jadi bootis’ to find a mosquito repellant that has no side effects”, Hifazat related.

“A cotton wick is soaked in a mix of liquids squeezed out saps from eucalyptus, neem, orange peel and apthalia. This wick replaces the wick in the ordinary kerosene lantern. When these jadi bootis burn with kerosene, a herbal smoke is produced that acts as a pest repellent”, revealed Ashiq.

The ‘inventor’ claims that the smoke is not a health hazard.

“Leave alone the side effects on humans, the smoke does not have even the potential to kill mosquitoes. It only ‘drives’ them away”, he observed.

The lantern has a tank that can hold just 25 ml of kerosene that lasts for six nights if used continuously. The wick lasts for one month after which it can be replaced. A couple of extra wicks are given free of cost with each lantern.

This works out cheaper to the regular mosquito repellents that comprise chemicals.

Government aid

“The herbal mix has been tested in laboratories at Ayurvedic College at Ahmednagar and Amaravati before we launched it as a commercial production. What I need now is some aid from the Maharashtra Government to go in for large-scale production of the lantern”, stated Ali Hifazat.