DOMESTIC FUEL CONSUMPTION IN BIRHUN WATERSHED OF UDHAMPUR, J&K

摘要

The study was conducted in Birhun watershed of Udhampur district of J&K. The watershed was divided in to three zones according to distance of Villages from the forests. Zone Ⅰ and Zone Ⅱ which represent urban and peri-urban set up have better socio economic status. The fuel wood consumption was found in all the zones but Zone Ⅲ has the highest proportion of fuel wood in the total house hold energy consumption. The use of commercial energy in the form of LPG is only found in Zone Ⅰ having 56 percent share in total fuel consumption, followed by Zone Ⅱ with around 23 percent share. The use of other fuels like kerosene, crop residue, Cow dung cakes is not so popular. The total fuel wood consumption for the study area and availability from non forest sources was estimated to the tune of 17954.86 tonnes per annum and 2441.18 tonnes showing a deficit of 15513.68 tonnes. This deficit in the fuel wood availability is met by extraction of wood from the forests and Rakhs. The degradation of the forests is due to over exploitation of forests for fuel wood, fodder, timber, which is a matter of concern in the study area.