NAL’s Swarna Hamsa to aid inland fishermen

A spin-off product of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) could help inland fishermen land their catch without risking their lives.

The Swarna Hamsa, a spin-off product is a baseline - bamboo laminate based water vessel version of CSIR Hamsa, a multi-terrain land-water vehicle system developed by the NAL.

S Selvarajan, chief scientist, CSIR-NAL, who is heading the project, told DNA that the Swarna Hamsa will benefit the inland fishermen with its functionality, augmented safety and cost-effectiveness.

He said that Swarna Hamsa, which has already undergone field trials at Mallaghatta Lake in Tumkur District, has evoked interest among the fishermen. “During the trails the fishermen witnessed its capabilities and were impressed by its functionality,” he said. Swarna Hamsa’s safety is assured as it can be rendered very stable by attaching ‘strap-on out triggers’.

Selvarajan said the department of fisheries are also impressed with the Swarna Hamsa and have expressed interest to provide it to the inland fishing community.

As part of the ‘Outreach to People of Karnataka’, this improvised traditional water vessel was paraded during the Rajyotsava Celebrations at Tumkur. “Currently the patenting for the technology is under process,” Selvarajan added.

The air propelled ferry system — CSIR Hamsa, from which the Swarna Hamsa is derived, can be used in marshy land and water.

The CSIR Hamsa, a self-propelled multi-terrain vehicle which depends primarily on air thrust for propulsion, can also be used for eco-tourism, fishing, leisure, geometrics, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations.