7.5.2. LPG, Gobar Gas in Rural Areas

Households in rural areas generally use wood, dung cake or other biomass as fuel. This practice has several adverse implications like deforestation, reduction in green cover, wastage of cattle dung and air pollution.

In rural areas, many households rely on traditional fuels such as wood, dung cakes, and other forms of biomass. While these resources are easily accessible, their use leads to serious environmental issues. First, using wood for fuel can cause deforestation, which negatively impacts the ecosystem. Second, burning dung and biomass produces air pollution, contributing to health problems for those living nearby. Lastly, using dung for fuel wastes a valuable resource that could be used as organic fertilizer.

Think of a family using firewood every day to cook meals. Each time they cut down a tree, they are not just reducing the number of trees but also the clean, fresh air that those trees produce. It’s like using your savings to buy a luxury item instead of investing that money into something that can help you in the long run, like your education.

To rectify the situation, subsidised LPG is being provided. In addition, gobar gas plants are being provided through easy loans and subsidy.

To address the issues of pollution and resource wastage from traditional fuels, the government is providing subsidized options like LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). LPG is a cleaner fuel compared to wood and biomass, leading to reduced household pollution and conserving valuable resources. Additionally, the establishment of gobar gas plants allows households to generate fuel from cattle dung, which not only provides energy but also produces organic fertilizer from the leftover slurry.

It's similar to switching from a noisy, polluting old car to a modern electric vehicle. The electric vehicle not only runs cleaner but also helps conserve energy and reduces overall pollution.

As far as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is concerned, it is a clean fuel — it reduces household pollution to a large extent. Also, energy wastage is minimised.

Using LPG significantly lowers pollution levels in households. Unlike traditional fuels, which release harmful smoke and greenhouse gases, LPG burns cleanly, reducing the amount of soot and other pollutants in the air. Additionally, it is more efficient, leading to less energy wastage and ensuring that households get the most out of the fuel they purchase.

Imagine cooking with a gas stove versus an open fire. Using a gas stove is like using a smartphone—it’s efficient, convenient, and less harmful compared to an old flip phone that takes longer to work and can be frustrating to use.

For the gobar gas plant to function, cattle dung is fed to the plant and gas is produced which is used as fuel while the slurry which is left over is a very good organic fertiliser and soil conditioner.

Gobar gas plants work by taking cow dung and processing it to produce biogas, which can be used for cooking and lighting. The process not only provides a renewable source of energy but also leaves behind a nutrient-rich slurry that can improve soil health when used as fertilizer. This process turns waste into a valuable resource, supporting agricultural activities and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

This is like recycling plastic into useful products—just as recycled plastic can become a chair or bottle, cattle dung is turned into energy and fertilizer, making it much more useful rather than just being discarded.

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