Household Consumption Pattern of Fuel Energy and Emerging Crisis : An Analytical Investigation in a Regional Perspective

This paper presents results of field research on household consumption pattern of fuel energy in a regional perspective and brings out certain dimensions of energy crisis faced by the people. The paper distinctly observes a differential pattern of consumption of fuel energy between the rural areas of different regions, between rural and urban areas, across the various income groups and household size. The paper reports that energy problem is area/ region-specific and also time-specific and therefore macro plan strategies fail to yield positive results. The main conclusions are: (a) Household size has a positive correlation with quantity of energy consumption and also has a positive effect on its pattern; (b) Increase in per capita income has no definite relationship with per capita energy consumption; (c) Higher per capita income of urban people causes a shift in demand from traditional to commercial source of energy; (d) Availability of biomass sources free of cost leads to lavish and careless consumption in greater quantities; (e) Availability of fuel sources in an area primarily determine pattern of fuel consumption; (f) Use of traditional fuel and inefficient cooking gadgets and devices cause greater amount of consumption of fuel energy; (g) Diminishing availability and increasing prices are the consequences of lack of planning with respect to production and distribution. The paper suggests (i) a decentralised area/region specific; (ii) population-specific; (ii) resource specific; and need-based plan strategy besides suitable measures to diminish demand on woodfuel not only through efficient cooking gadgets and devices but also through wide use of alternate sources failing which heavy pressure on woodfuel may lead to acceleration of depletion of forest cover, soil erosion, ecological disaster and environmental hazards.