SHANGLA: The residents of different villages in Shangla have been relying on biogas to fulfil their energy needs.

Most of the villagers have installed biogas plants on self-help basis. They say that each plant generates gas to fulfil the requirements of four to five households. However, the residents of hilly areas use firewood as fuel.

They say that biogas plant are used for converting fermentable organic matter, particularly cattle dung, into a combustible gas and fully matured and enriched organic fertiliser.

Most of the biogas plants are installed in Kormang union council and Kana tehsil as electricity has been suspended to these areas for the last six years.

“I saw a biogas plant in Swat. It was a successful plant and generated gas for seven households. I took interest in it and installed at in our village. It generates gas for our families,” says Hussainullah, owner of mini-biogas plant.

He says that after his successful experience, the residents of the area took interest in installing more plants in the village. “Now we don’t need to buy firewood. The forest department has also imposed ban on firewood,” he adds.

Aminul Haq, the local engineer of biogas plants, says that he has installed more than 200 plants across the district during the last two years. “A typical biogas plant consists of a digester where the anaerobic fermentation takes place, a gasholder for collecting biogas, the input-output units for feeding the influent and storing the effluent respectively, and a gas distribution system,” he adds.

He says four to seven families can get gas from a mini-biogas plant.

Zenat Mohammad, a resident of Kormang, says that most of the people are installing biogas plants but poor people cannot afford it.

“If government installs a big biogas plant, the villagers will be facilitated and they will get gas from the plant instead of buying firewood,” he adds.

RAIN: Heavy rains disturbed routine life in Bisham, Alpuri, Shahpur, Chakesar, Puran and other parts of the district.

The power supply remained suspended to the district for second consecutive day.

Pesco officials said that power supply was disconnected to Chatarplain, Mansehra and Thakot, Battagram, Bisham and adjoining areas owing to fault in the system caused by heavy rain.

The residents of Kormang, Damorai and Ajmir told this scribe by telephone that their mini-power stations were affected by the rainfall. The Lelawnai-Peer Khana Road was blocked due to heavy landslide while Swat-Bisham Road was reopened to light traffic on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2016