Conclusion |
Land cover analysis using distance based vegetation index TSAVI is appropriate to the regions such as Kolar, which belongs to the semi arid zone of Karnataka and has sparse vegetation. This analysis shows that 45.93% of area is under vegetation and 54.07% under non-vegetation.
Land use analysis was done based on Gaussian Maximum Likelihood Classifier indicates that agriculture (43.78 %) and wasteland (38.70 %) constitute major share, followed by plantation (6.11 %), forest (5.7 %), built up (4.12 %) and water (1.02 %).
Species level land use analyses based on pixel level mapping (considering higer spatial resolution data) and spectral response pattern of each species gives the area under eucalyptus (2.44%), forest (3.18 %), mango plantation (0.70%), Acacia nilotica (0.17%) and Prosopis Juliflora (0.20%).
Population density analyses show more than 90% villages have less density (0-4 person per hectare) while density is high in town and sanitary area.
Computation of bioresource status (ratio of availability of resource to demand) showed more than 95% villages have acute resource scarcity (values in the range 0.1 to 0.3) and very few villages have relatively better bioresource status (with the ratio >0.6). This area based resource analyses helps the decision makers in selecting the villages for energy interventions.
Based on this investigation of biomass resource availability and demand, Kolar can be categorised as bioresource deficit district. Kolar depends mainly on non-commercial forms of energy. Non commercial energy constitutes 84%, met mainly by sources like firewood, agricultural residues and cow dung, while commercial energy share is 16%, met mainly by electricity, oil etc.
Plantation and forest area is very less in Kolar district, which causes scarcity of bioresource, specially fuel wood and imbalance of environment. To maintain the environmental balance and to meet the bioresource demand there should be tree plantations in wasted area and some alternative source should be found out for cooking.
Availability of animal residues for biogas generation gives a viable alternative for cooking, lighting fuel and a useful fertiliser. However to support the present livestock population fodder from agricultural residues is insufficient in this district. Various alternatives such as fuel-efficient stoves, biogas, and energy plantations are proposed for improved utilisation of bio resources and to enhance bioresource. Renewables such as solar energy can be used for cooking and lighting.