Ranchi, Oct. 23: The whole world is waking up to the new mantra in fashion, philosophy, festivals or what have you — “happening yet politically correct”. Translated in eco terms that would read “trendy yet environment-friendly.”

Ranchi (which is part of the “whole world” after all) is no stranger to the concept either. This Diwali, in fact, the city could be the fountainhead for a new eco-friendly trend.

The Society for Rural Industrialisation (SRI) is experimenting with a new type of environmental-friendly “vanishing diya containers” and castor lamps and candles which, it claims, would reduce the pollution level during Diwali by as much as 95 per cent.

“Both the products are still on the laboratory table, though the experiment is near culmination,” SRI chief Indrajit Dey told The Telegraph. Dey said he was confident that both these environmentally-friendly products would hit the markets well before Diwali next year.

Dey said the entire Chhotanagpur plateau produces a good harvest of castor every year which is now used by local tribes to produce oil used mostly as a medium of lighting. Castor, or rerhi oil as it is popularly known, is cheaper than kerosene and is known to last much longer.

“SRI is currently experimenting with castor seeds to produce lamps and candles. We are also propagating more use of castor oil which gives off less smoke and is more environmental-friendly in comparison to “karanj” oil which is more commonly used,” Dey said.

The SRI chief said castor products and oil, used as a burning medium, are more effective in destroying harmful bacteria and insects which infest the earth during fall periods every year.

“Tests have conclusively proved that castor oil is more effective in controlling pests and bacteria,” Dey said.

“We are also trying to produce attractive lamps and candles by heat-pressing castor seeds as a replacement for earthen diyas,” he said. According to Dey, “vanishing containers” are also been lab-tested at SRI. “These containers are being made from bio-mass without the use of chemicals. The bio-mass contain a fibrous material like grass which, when heated gave off resins contained in it. As more heat is applied, the fibrous material grows softer and softer and finally melts without leaving behind any residue,” the SRI chief said.

Dey said people should have more marigold plants in their gardens which act as an effective control mechanism against germs and harmful insects. Using castor oil to light up lamps also serve the same purpose, he said.

“Lamps lit up with the help of the near smokeless castor oil would also attract bacteria and insects and burn them off without polluting the environment,” Dey said.