OREANDA-NEWS. May 16, 2012. Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power company, has been promoting sustainable energy solutions for its communities residing around it plants and project locations. Accordingly, Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL), the subsidiary of Tata Power, organized a one day workshop that focused on the importance of the use of Bio-Gas in individual households at Vandh, in Mundra.

The workshop was conducted with women Self Help Group (SHG) members of Vandh, a small hamlet under Tunda Gram Panchayat of Mundra Taluka of Kutch District in Gujarat. The hamlet largely comprises of Rabaris - nomadic cattle rearers in nature, where Cattle rearing and milking is an important livelihood source. 73 SHG members participated in the workshop out of which the workshop team has already received three requests to implement individual household bio gas units.

Presently with 1183 cattle in these two villages, approximately 5915 Kg of dung is generated daily.  With the kind of sustained source availability it is believed that this project has a better success rate. The Company has also decided to promote this venture to make it a landmark initiative in the area of self-sustainable energy solution.   

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. K. K. Sharma, Chief-Mundra Project said, “Tata Power’s step towards promotion of Bio Gas utilization will benefit the local community to a great extent and also protect them from chronic diseases arising out of burning wood and coal. We at Tata Power will continue to conduct such initiatives that will benefit our communities on a sustainable basis”.

By providing an alternative source of fuel, biogas can replace the traditional fuels, notably wood. Introduced on a significant scale, biogas may reduce the dependence on wood from forests and help protect trees. This clean and particulate-free source of energy will also reduce the likelihood of chronic diseases that are associated with the indoor combustion of fuels like wood and coal. GLPC (Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company, Government Of Gujarat, Bhuj unit) partnered with the Company to popularize this concept and extend convergence support to the interested beneficiaries in the ongoing program.