Amid concerns of LPG and fuel shortages due to the Gulf crisis, a village in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, has come up with an innovative solution. Rangepar Kohli, a village with 2,000 residents, is using biogas as an alternative energy source, reducing their reliance on LPG. Over 200 families in the village have adopted ‘Gobar Gas’ and biogas systems, utilizing cow dung to produce gas for the community.
This shift to traditional energy sources has made the village self-reliant, especially during the current fuel shortages. The model introduced by Rangepar Kohli has garnered attention and praise in the region, offering a ray of hope in uncertain times. The biogas plants installed in households have not only eased cooking gas needs but have also integrated toilets, showcasing a sustainable approach.
Manohar Borkar, the Sarpanch of Rangepar Kohli, highlighted the success of the biogas initiative, stating that every household in the village has livestock and space for biogas plants. The system, which began in 1987, has now grown to 200-225 operational biogas plants, ensuring a reliable cooking gas supply for all families. Villagers like Devidas Raghunathji Lanjewar emphasized the efficiency of the biogas system in meeting their daily cooking and water heating needs, all derived from livestock dung.
Ishwardas Hatwar shared his experience of transitioning from an older Gobar Gas unit to the more efficient Biogas Scheme. With a steady supply of biogas, villagers have abandoned gas cylinders due to their unreliability, relying solely on the biogas system for their household activities. The seamless availability of biogas has facilitated smooth daily routines without the hassle of gas cylinder shortages, ensuring a sustainable energy solution for the community.
