Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has invented a shallow pump run by compressed natural gas (CNG), the first of its kind in the country, with a view to reducing the irrigation cost of the farmers.

    Four engineers of BCSIR invented the new technology after nine-month efforts, local daily The Daily Star reported Thursday.

    Raihan, the team leader, said they converted the existing diesel-run shallow pump into CNG-run one which can also be run by both gas and diesel.

    In that case, 70 percent CNG and 30 percent diesel will be needed to run the pump, he added.

    Raihan said the CNG-run shallow pump can save about 70 percent of the cost.

    Around 12,000 to 15,000 taka (about 171 U.S. dollars to 214 U.S. dollars) is needed to make a CNG-run pump, which can run at least 30 hours with gas worth only 100 taka (about 1.43 U.S. dollars), he added.

    Rupesh Chnadra Roy, a member of the research team, said if a farmer wants to convert his diesel-run pump into CNG one, it wouldcost 7,000 taka (100 U.S. dollars).

    The CNG-run shallow pump is easy to carry as it contains a cylinder of 40 liters, he said, adding that there is no hassle while filling the cylinder with gas as the cylinder can easily be separated from the machine.

    Inaugurating the pump, BCSIR Chairman Dr Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan said the invention could reduce the irrigation cost significantly.