India:Shortage of cooking gas is increasing pressure Himachal Pradesh forests

Shortage of cooking gas is compelling the villagers in Himachal
Pradesh to use traditional fuel firewood for cooking, which is putting
pressure on forests that are yet to recover from deforestation.
Shortages of LPG has made the villagers in Sheeghat and Rampur village
ofhimla almost desperate. They are moving into forests to procure
firewood for cooking despite a blanket ban on felling of trees. “The
LPG cylinders are not available on time. So, all the villagers are
going to the forests to get firewood,” said Mangat Ram, a villager.

Almost 66 per cent of Himachal Pradesh is under forest area, but has
only 25 per cent green cover due to extensive deforestation. According
to officials, the LPG cooking gas supply in the state needs to be
regularized, otherwise the percentage of green cover is bound to come
down further. Ramesh Dhawala, Food and Civil Supplies Minister of
Himachal Pradesh,aid that the state government was streamlining the
system concerning the supply of cooking gas in the rural areas. “LPG
is being used in cars and in hotels. The villages will face scarcity
of LPG. So, to streamline the entire system, we have formed a flying
squad which will go and check every hotel in all the districts for
illegal use of LPG,” said Ramesh Dhawala, Food and Civil Supplies
Minister, Himachal Pradesh. About 91 per cent population of the
Himachal Pradesh is living in rural areas nearly in 17000 villages in
and around the forests. The villagers are mostly dependent on farming
and allied activities to earn their livelihood. By Hemant Chauhan
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/286668.php

Posted via email from Deane’s posterous