(a) whether the Government has taken note that a large percentage of households in the country use firewoods or wood chips for cooking, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) The steps taken/being taken by the Government to minimize this practice among the people of the country?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)
(a) Yes, Sir.At all India level, firewood and chips were used for cooking by 67.3% of rural households and 14% of urban households according to the National Sample Survey Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India (Report number 562 titled Energy Sources of Indian Households for Cooking and Lighting, 2011-12).
(b) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing the Unnat Chullha Abhiyan launched in June 2014 for promotion of improved biomass cook stoves in the country for providing clean energy solutions with reduced consumption of fuel wood due to higher efficiency and low emissions. The MNRE is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme, the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) for setting up of family type household biogas plants for meeting cooking energy needs of rural and semi-urban areas and to save the use of firewood. So far 48.3 lakh family type biogas plants have been installed in the country. Further, the MNRE has been implementing the Solar Cooker Programme. Cooking is the common application of Solar Energy in India.
Moreover, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas aims to increase the National LPG coverage of household to 75% with minimum 60% coverage at State level and at least one distributor in each block by 2019. To increase the penetration in rural and backward areas, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) appoint new LPG distributors and more than 97% of blocks are being catered by at least one LPG distributorship.
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