STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR COCONUT OIL
AS AN EFFECTIVE
LUBRICANT
In
what could turn out to be a cheering news for coconut growers, facing sharp
fall in prices of their produce and for motor vehicle owners in India, the time
tested experiment by an autorikshaw driver here testifying coconut oil could
well be used as an ideal substitute to conventional lubricant oil has got yet
another stamp of approval from the State Science & Technology Department.In
a letter to G. Rajeevan, an autorikshaw driver based in Cherupuzha bordering
the district, the Department said the claims made by him has been certified by
the Dean of the ‘Kelappaji College of Agriculture Engineering &
Technology’, affirming that coconut oil could be used as an effective
alternative to conventional lubricant for small automobile engines.The letter
on behalf of the Ex-Officio Principal Secretary to the State Government on June
26, quoting the Agriculture College, said the use of coconut oil as alternative
to conventional lubricants said “there are no adverse effect on the engine
parts or in the performance of the petrol engine”.
“They
have, therefore, recommended that coconut oil can be used as an alternative to
the commercial petroleum lubricant ” in light commercial vehicles, the letter
by B. V. Mani, Under Secretary to the Department, stated.V. N. Rajasekharan
Pillai, Ex-Officio Principal Secretary to the State Science & Technology
hailing the letter certifying the efficacy of coconut oil said his Department
was ready to support the initiative of Mr. Rajeevan, who had been using coconut
oil as lubricant for the last 13 years.“Mr. Rajeevan can now seek support of
the automobile manufacturing units to profess his claims supported by relevant
certificates in his possession. And the Department will be too happy to come in
support of his initiative to help coconut growers of the State find stable and
higher market for their produce,” Mr. Pillai told The Hindu over
phone.The fresh development comes after Mr. Rajeevan had sent a report about
his innovation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who, Mr. Rajeevan said, followed
it up with the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.
The institute later referred the matter to the Kerala Agriculture University
for its suggestions.
Earlier,
the Joint Director, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and
Environment, Thiruvananthapuram had said claims of Mr. G. Rajeevan, a resident
of Cherupuzha town, bordering the district, are found to be true and the shift
in lubricant is more environmental friendly than the costly conventional
petroleum-based lubricant.The latest affirmation could bring cheer to coconut
growers in the State at a time when the Government is extending hefty subsidy
to marketing and processing agencies to procure raw coconut in the face of
crash in market prices, which is put in the range of Rs. 9 and Rs. 11 at a time
when there has been all-round hike in cost of production.
Prof.
John Kurakar
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