World Wildlife Fund Pakistan (WWF) in collaboration with Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has set up 10 biogas plants at localities near Keenjhar Lake in District Thatta. The project is aimed at providing alternate energy to local communities who lacked basic facilities for cooking. The biogas supply will help reduce pressure on the forest.
WWF's Director for Sindh and Balochistan Ali Dehlvi said the project would help reduce human dependency and pressure on the nature.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the project at Keenjhar Lake, he said, internationally, some 200 locations were identified for protection of environment on preferential bases, of them Keenjhar ranked 40. WWF has been playing its role to protect the Mother Nature. The 50 year project, he said, was initiated in 2006 and would continue till 2056.
Shehbaz Aslam, head of corporate communications, SSGC, said that initially some 10 small size biogas plants were installed in two villages on experimental basis with 7 plants in Yousuf Hilayo Goth while three at Ramazan Gopang village. The biogas plants cost some Rs2.8 million with around Rs 150,000 for each plant. It took some six to eight months for completion, he added. "The project is successful, as the local people are quite happy; they are involved and taking ownership. The both organisations have intention to increase the number of plants in future," he said. Anees, a middle aged man, owner of one of the plants, praised the SSGC and WWF for ensuring cheaper fuel facility at his doorstep.
"Earlier, we had to go miles to bring woods to burn and use them as fuel. It was expensive and consuming more time and energy. Thanks to both organisations for wonderful plants. Gas pressure as fine as we can cook three times food easily," he said.
Every 2nd day, you have to put some 5kg animal dung and same quantity of water into the tank. It will produce gas automatically; he said adding that women were also happy and now free to make their handicrafts activities instead of wasting time in collecting woods from bushes. He said people were coming to them and desired to avail the facility.
Kamal Ahmad, Keenjhar Conservation Network president said the facility was environment-friendly. He said the best quality fertiliser was produced from these biogas plants that were being used in our fields.
Munawar Hilayo, a representative of the villagers, requested the WWF and SSGC to expand their projects to other localities as well. He assured his full cooperation in this regard. He said it was need of hours to switch to alternate energy because nearby forest was fast depleting due to massive cutting by residents for wooden fuel. He also complained of inferior material found in some of the plants. He urged the WWF and SSGC to award contracts to professionals. The officials assured him to address his grievance.
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