Energy Status and Consumption Pattern in Rural Temperate Zone of Western Himalayas: A Case Study

Abstract

The study was conducted in Astingo village of Bandipora Forest Division in north Kashmir on a sample of 224 from 560 households (40%) with the help of combo pack of interview and observation methods. The observations on land utilization pattern revealed that 37.48 per cent of the land area is under agriculture followed by horticulture (20.16%), homestead farming (14.86%), agri-silviculture (12.92%), forestry (08.08%) and silvi-horticulture (06.50%), respectively. The inhabitants relied mainly upon fuel wood, charcoal, dung cake, LPG, kerosene and electricity to meet out their day to day energy demand. Fuel wood dominated among all the energy sources with charcoal at second and cow dung at third in raking. The total requirement of fuel wood at study site was estimated 634 tonnes per annum against its availability 405 tonnes per annum. The almost half (50.20%) of total fuel wood is utilized for cooking and rest is being for other different applications. The strategies must be framed to narrow the gap between demand and supply of energy sources by advocating the need to establish woodlots of suitable species on waste and fallow lands. There is significant potential for generation of power from small hydro projects as Kashmir has vast source of water, solar energy, etc.