Kashi will soon have a manufacturing unit of cow dung paint, to be run by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KIVC) at Non-Departmental Training Center (NDTC) in Sevapuri.
The eco-friendly and non-toxic paint known as Khadi Prakritik Paint has anti-fungal, antibacterial properties. Based on cow dung as its main ingredient, the paint is costeffective and odorless, and has been certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
The KVIC will invest over Rs 10 crore for infrastructural development and modernization of its Sewapuri premises. Establishment of the natural paint unit is part of the mega development plan.
According to the KVIC officials, the Khadi Prakritik Paint comes in two forms – distemper paint and plastic emulsion paint. The paint is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, and others. It will give a boost to local manufacturing and will create sustainable local employment through technology transfer. The technology will increase usage of cow dung as a raw material for ecofriendly products and will generate additional revenue for farmers and gaushalas. Utilization of cow dung will also clean the environment and prevent clogging of drains.
The Khadi Prakritik distemper and emulsion paints have been tested at three reputed national laboratories, including National House, Mumbai, Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, New Delhi, and National Test House, Ghaziabad.
Khadi Prakritik emulsion paint meets BIS 15489:2013 standards, whereas Khadi Prakritik distemper paint meets BIS 428:2013 standards. The paint has successfully passed various test parameters such as application of paint, thinning properties, drying time and finish, among others. It dries in less than four hours, and has a smooth and uniform finish. The paint can be applied on interior as well as exterior walls. Both distemper and emulsion paints are available in white base colour, and it can be developed into any color by suitably mixing colorants.
