Assessment of fuel choices in a hilly region of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

In India, nearly 86% of rural households use biomass for cooking. Easy availability of fuel wood and prolonged winters increases its amount and usage in hilly regions. In the present study, to identify the current status of fuel consumption pattern of rural areas in a hilly region, three villages namely Naugaon, Mawana and Kota from the Pauri district of Uttarakhand were selected. A questionnaire was prepared comprising of queries related to socio-economic status, choice of fuels for cooking, health and social awareness among women. Estimation and comparison between greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of LPG and fuel wood were made. It was observed that monthly expenditure on LPG and fuel wood use per household was almost similar. The biomass energy is the fuel of choice in the region as sustainable fuel type. The fuel choices in rural and hilly regions of developing countries have also been discussed in brief.