The tribal villages in the Western Ghats, 45 km from Karwar, are experiencing an eco-social revolution. The forest department is planning to provide LPG connections to these dwellers.
The tribal villages in the Western Ghats, 45 km from Karwar, are experiencing an eco-social revolution. The forest department is planning to provide LPG connections to these dwellers, so that they do not have to depend on firewood for cooking. This initiative will also help in eco-friendly, domestic fuel consumption.
“There are thousands of forest inhabitants in the Western Ghats who are cut off from the modern ways of living, making them dependent on the forest for survival. It is estimated that the forest dwellers burn away at least 5 kg of firewood per day. There are at least over two lakh people in Karwar and Honnavar taluks of Uttara Kannada district. These people are totally dependent on firewood from the forest for cooking,” said R Gokul, deputy conservator of forests, Uttara Kannada.
Speaking to DNA, Gokul said, “This is an initiative to help tribals who are dependent on firewood for cooking. To begin with, we have arranged LPG connections for 15 tribal families in Nivala village in Karwar taluk. Soon, there will be campaigns to include more families so that they get to use LPG connections rather than firewood for cooking. This will also help in conserving forests.”
“We do not grudge paying for the cylinder. Money is not a problem, but till now no government official has offered any help in securing an LPG connection. Now the forest department has came forward to help us,” said one of the beneficiaries.
There are an estimated 8000 families in 21 villages inside the forest areas in Honnavar and Karwar taluks.
Together they burn over 1000 kg of firewood, which tonnes up to 30 tons of firewood burnt in one day. This explains the reason for the balding hills of Uttara Kannada.
Officials of the LPG companies said, “Uttara Kannada district has limited number of LPG distributors, and many of them were not able to get the gas cylinders to the interior areas due to lack of roads and most importantly the lack of demand. We hardly receive any applications from people in rural areas."
Environment and ecology minister Krishna Palemar appreciated the initiative taken by the forest department.
“It is one of the best ways to stop destruction of forests, since LPG is less harmful to the environment,” he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=spacer}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}