The Need to Curb Black Carbon Emissions through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

Context

India is actively reducing black carbon emissions through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

About Black Carbon

• About: It is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
• Composition: It comprises a significant portion of particulate matter or PM, which is an air pollutant.
• Contribution: It contributes significantly to global warming due to its high efficiency in absorbing light and heating its surroundings. It contributes to warming by turning incoming solar light into heat.
  • It also affects cloud formation, regional circulation, and rainfall patterns.
• Impacts: It causes global warming and poses significant concerns. Studies have established a direct link between exposure to black carbon and an increased risk of heart disease, birth problems, and early mortality.
  • It has a warming impact on climate that is 460–1,500 times stronger than CO2.
• Sources of Black Carbon Emissions: The residential sector contributes 47%, industry 22%, diesel vehicles 17%, open burning 12%, and other 2%.
• • The industrial and transportation sectors have witnessed improvements, but residential emissions remain an issue.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas 
• Aim: To provide LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• Phase 1: The scheme was launched on 1st May 2016. The target under the scheme was to release 8 Crore LPG Connections to the deprived households by March 2020. 
• Phase2: Under the Union Budget for FY 21-22, provision for release of additional 1 Crore LPG connections under the PMUY scheme has been made. In this phase, special facilities have been given to migrant families.

Role of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Providing Free LPG Connections: It gives free access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for low-income households.
• Primary Goal: The primary goal was to make clean cooking fuel available to rural and impoverished people, reducing their reliance on traditional cooking fuels.
• Developing Infrastructure: The PMUY has developed infrastructure to support LPG connections, such as free gas stoves, deposits for LPG cylinders, and a distribution network.
• Reducing Black Carbon Emissions: The programme has played a critical role in lowering black carbon emissions. It provides a cleaner alternative to conventional fuel consumption.

Issues with Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• Low Penetration: According to RTI data (2022-2023), 25% of all PMUY beneficiaries received either zero or only one LPG refill.
  • They still used traditional biomass for cooking.
• Reliance on Traditional Fuels: Traditional fuels continue to provide half of a PMUY beneficiary household’s total energy demands.
  • The average PMUY beneficiary household uses only 3.5-4 LPG cylinders per year, compared to six or seven for a regular non-PMUY household.
• Effect of Traditional Fuels: Women and children are disproportionately affected by the LPG shortage and increased use of traditional fuels. 
  • They are particularly vulnerable to high amounts of indoor air pollution, which causes several health problems and untimely mortality.
• Unaffordability: Over the past five years, LPG costs have skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for many PMUY beneficiaries.
  • In October 2023, the government raised the LPG subsidy to ₹300 from ₹200. 
• Lack of Last Mile connectivity:  The lack of last-mile connectivity in the LPG distribution network leads to distant rural communities relying heavily on biomass.

Local Solutions and Innovations

• Production of Coal Bed Methane: Composting biomass produces coal-bed methane (CBM) gas on-site.
• Advantage of Coal Bed Methane: CBM is a far cleaner fuel, with reduced black-carbon emissions and investment.
• Role of Panchayats: Panchayats can take the initiative to generate CBM gas locally at the village level, ensuring that every rural home has access to safe cooking fuel.
• Carbon Reduction Measures: Prioritising black carbon reduction measures, such as the PMUY scheme, can help India become a global leader in tackling regional health challenges.
  • It will assist the country achieve its Sustainable Development Goal of providing everyone with cheap clean energy while also contributing to global climate mitigation.

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