BIOMASS ASSESSMENT FOR GASIFIER BASED ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM IN REMOTE VILLAGE OF NORTHERN WESTERN GHATS, MAHARASHTRA.

Sawant Dipak1, Kranti Yardi2, Jayant Sarnaik3

1

Indian Herpetological Society, Pune Snake Park, Katraj Pune-411046. dipaksawant@hotmail.com

2

Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research, Dhanakawadi, Pune-43.

3

Applied Environmental research Foundation, Kothrud, Pune-411029. aerf@vsnl.com

Key Words: Biomass Assessment, Gasifier based electrification, Biomass extraction Theme: Community Participation in Conservation / Biodiversity Assessment

ABSTRACT Biomass gasifier based electrification projects are being promoted by Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources for off grid remote villages. Since, the raw material used in gasifier is wood, this study attempted to assess the sustainability of a proposed gasifier system and its impact on surrounding forest resources studying remote village Kusarpeth, Velhe Taluka from Northern

Western Ghats of Pune district. A resource consumption pattern and total biomass requirements were assessed before and after implementation of project using Participatory Rural Appraisal. Standing Biomass of trees were calculated using statistical equations in quadrat samples. Current biomass requirements of the village were approximately 49 tons/ annum. The installation of gasifier would additionally demand 44 tons of woody biomass every year for installation of 20KW generator running 6hrs/day. Annual Biomass productivity in reserved forests, shifting fallows and proposed energy plantation at 4th year was found to be 1333.32 ton/ha, 400.81ton/ha and 296.41 ton/ha respectively. Harvestable biomass at 50% and 75% levels of extraction in shifting fallows was 240.5 tons/annum and 360.7 tons/annum while that of proposed plantation in 4th year was 78.2 ton/annum and 117.3 ton/annum respectively. This energy security plan will be ecologically sustainable at 50% extraction of Mean Annual Increment (MAI) of biomass from shifting fallows or 75% of MAI of biomass from the proposed plantation.