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.