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The energy crisis seems to be deepening in many parts of the country due to the Iran war. Its impact is clearly visible on the everyday life of common people. Especially for cooking gas (LPG), people have to stand in long queues. Problems like supply delays, panic booking and black marketing have made the situation more difficult.

Although the government says that there is no shortage of gas, the ground reality is telling a different story. In many areas, people are returning empty handed even after standing in queue for hours.

Biogas becomes cheap and reliable option

Amidst this crisis, biogas has emerged as a strong option in villages. 25 year old Gauri Devi from Nekpur village of Uttar Pradesh is an example of this. She cooks everyday food in her home using biogas produced from cow dung. Gauri says, everything can be made from it - roti, vegetables, pulses and tea. If the gas pressure ever decreases, it becomes fine again after some time.

The biogas plant installed in his house is connected to an underground tank, in which cow dung and water is mixed. This produces methane gas, which reaches the stove directly through the pipe.

Dependence on LPG is decreasing

India uses more than 30 million tonnes of LPG every year, more than half of which has to be imported. In such a situation, the international situation has a direct impact on the domestic supply. Many rural women like Gauri now use LPG cylinders only for emergencies or big events. This not only reduces expenses, but also reduces the impact of gas shortage.

Biogas fertilizer is turning into black gold

There is another big advantage of biogas plant. The slurry coming out of it works as an excellent organic fertilizer. Farmers call it black gold, because it is very beneficial for crops. Farmers say that this manure is more effective than raw dung and provides more nutrition to the plants. At present, when the supply of chemical fertilizers is also being affected due to global reasons, this option has become even more important.

Government's emphasis and increasing demand

The government is also making continuous efforts to promote biogas. Subsidy is being given for setting up biogas plants in villages since the 1980s. The cost of a small plant is around 25 to 30 thousand rupees, in which good help is available from the government. India has set a target of becoming carbon neutral by 2070, in which biogas can play an important role. The government has also decided that the share of biogas in the total use of gas will be increased in the coming years.

In recent times, after the shortage of LPG, people's interest in biogas has increased rapidly in villages. People who were not interested in it earlier are now also asking ways to adopt it.

challenges still remain

Although biogas has many benefits, it is not easy to reach every home. It requires land, initial cost and regular maintenance. Experts say that a biogas plant is not just a machine but like a small mini factory, which needs to be run properly.

This can be a challenge for rural laborers and small farmers, as they neither have enough land nor enough time to maintain it.

LPG still the main fuel

Despite all this, LPG still remains the main means of cooking in the country. Its supply chain is organized and easy to use, so most people depend on it.

beginning of changing thinking

Nevertheless, the current crisis has started changing people's thinking. Now people in villages have started seeing biogas as a reliable option. Overall, while on one hand the LPG crisis has increased the problems, on the other hand it has again brought traditional and environment-friendly options like biogas into discussion. In the coming times, it can play an important role in meeting the energy needs of rural India.

Kanhaiya Pachauri

Kanhaiya Pachauri is an experienced journalist with 10 years of experience in print, TV and online media. He started his career as a print journalist and has been covering the tech and auto sections for the last few years. He researches technology closely and keeps an eye on the latest trends and developments. Currently, Kanhaiya is associated with TV9, where he is covering the Tech and Auto section. He has made a name for himself for in-depth coverage of the latest developments in the industry. We are ready to provide complete and correct information about any news to the users. When he is not working on technology, he enjoys pursuing his hobbies. He likes listening to music and reading books. He believes that music and books are a great way to relax after a busy day at work.

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