| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Pollution, Issue: Black carbon |
Context: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) addressing the concern of black carbon
Black carbon:
- Emitted during incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels.
- Exposure leads to heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
- PMUY has reduced black carbon emissions by promoting the use of cleaner fuels.
Concerns:
- 25% PMUY of beneficiaries still cook solely with traditional biomass.
- Availability issues and last-mile connectivity gaps hinder PMUY’s success.
- Reliance on traditional fuel disproportionately affect women and children.
Recent steps to address this concern:
- Prime Minister announced a further ₹100 price reduction in March 2024,
- The government plans to continuously increase the spending since the scheme’s inception.
The way ahead:
- Panchayats can take the initiative to produce coal-bed methane gas from biomass.
- Prioritizing black carbon reduction is crucial for India’s global leadership in SDG.
| +1 Advantage For Mains (Data Point)·       In 2022-2023, 25% of PMUY beneficiaries, approximately 2.69 crore people, used either zero or just one LPG refill.
·       An August 2023 report by The Hindu found that the average PMUY beneficiary household consumes only 3.5-4 LPG cylinders annually, compared to 6-7 cylinders used by regular non-PMUY households. ·       According to a 2016 study, the residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total black carbon emissions, with industries contributing 22%, diesel vehicles 17%, open burning 12%, and other sources 2%. |
