Mangaluru : The 15th year Pingara Rajyotsava Award was bestowed upon Ignatius Orwin Noronha, inventor of MozziQuit during a function held at Town Hall on Tuesday, November 12.

MozziQuit is an eco-friendly, non-chemical, central government recognized and internationally appreciated mosquito-killer machine.

Mangalore Diocese Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha presented the award to Ignatius Orwin Noronha.

In his address, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha said that the award has been given to the most deserving person as Noronha’s invention is very useful in tackling mosquito menace.

After receiving the award, Ignatius Orwin Noronha expressed his gratitude to the National Institute of Malaria Research for recommending his name for the award and Pingara for giving him the award.

“My mother is my inspiration for inventing MozziQuit. As my mother suffered a lot due to filariasis and even at the age of 87 she continues to take anti-filariasis injections, I invented this mosquito-killing device,” he said.

Noronha, a Limca Book record holder, who invented, tried, tested and established a manufacturing unit of mosquito-killing machine in Mangaluru was recognized by Central Government and was granted Rs. 15 lakh for his achievement. The machine was tested in Goshalaas, public places and houses.

MLC Ivan D’Souza, former Kannada Sahitya Parishat state president Harikrishna Punaroor, former Konkani Academy president Roy Castelino were among those present at the award function.